Dinesh Karthik comes out to reveal the reason behind Rajat Patidar over Virat Kohli as RCB captain

The Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) appointed Rajat Patidar as their new captain for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season on February 13. Former Team India wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik, who is the batting coach and mentor of RCB, revealed two reasons behind Patidar’s selection as captain.

Rajat Patidar's appointment as the Bengaluru-based team's captain surprised many fans, as most expected Virat Kohli to return to the leadership role. The franchise opted for Patidar to lead the team in the IPL 2025. It is worth mentioning that the 31-year-old batter is yet to captain a team in the IPL.

Rajat Patidar to Become RCB’s Eighth Captain in IPL History

Rajat Patidar was retained by Royal Challengers Bengaluru for Rs 11 crore ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction. The right-handed batter from Madhya Pradesh was one of three retained players, alongside Virat Kohli and Yash Dayal.

Patidar debuted in the IPL in 2021 but went unsold in the 2022 auction. He later joined RCB as a replacement player. Since then, he has become an essential part of the squad. He played a crucial role in RCB's playoff run last season, scoring 395 runs at an average of 30.38 and a strike rate of 177.13.

His breakthrough moment came in the 2022 Eliminator against Lucknow Super Giants, where he scored a century at Eden Gardens. The middle-order batter is set to become the eighth player to captain RCB in the IPL. He joins the list of Indian captains, including Rahul Dravid, Anil Kumble, and Virat Kohli.

The Way He Led Madhya Pradesh Was Fantastic - Dinesh Karthik

Speaking on Cricbuzz’s Hey CB with DK show, Dinesh Karthik revealed two key reasons for Rajat Patidar’s appointment. Karthik said that Patidar impressed with his leadership while leading Madhya Pradesh in domestic cricket. He added that RCB wanted to start a fresh cycle with a new group of players.

“The way he led Madhya Pradesh during the domestic season was fantastic. A lot of good things players had to say about the way he led the team. So that really encouraged us, and we wanted a new leader considering it’s a fresh group of players and it’s going to be a fresh cycle as well. These two things prompted us to make Rajat our captain," Karthik said.

Rajat Patidar Led Madhya Pradesh to Runner-Up in 2024 Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy

Rajat Patidar led Madhya Pradesh to a runner-up finish in the 2024 Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy. He was the tournament’s second-highest run-scorer, amassing 428 runs in 10 matches at a blistering strike rate of 186.08 and an impressive average of 61.14.

Patidar scored an unbeaten 66 off 29 balls, including four fours and six sixes, in the semifinal against Delhi. He continued his stellar form in the final against Mumbai with 81 off 40 balls, smashing six fours and six sixes.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru have been part of the IPL since its inception in 2008 but are yet to win a title. They are one of the most consistent teams in recent years, reaching the playoffs in four of the last five seasons. It remains to be seen if Patidar can lead the Bengaluru team to their first-ever IPL triumph.

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