Under Rajat Patidar‘s captaincy, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have won six out of their first nine games in the 2025 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). The three-time finalists should make it to the playoffs unless something extraordinary happens.
Ahead of IPL 2025, some reports suggested that the talismanic Virat Kohli could return to the captaincy role at RCB. However, the management decided to throw a curveball and appointed Patidar as the captain of an IPL franchise for the first time. The Madhya Pradesh batter has fared impressively at the helm, impressing fans as well as critics with his composure under pressure and attention to detail.
RCB’s spin-bowling coach Malolan Rangarajan said that there were different opinions but the management put its faith in someone they saw a future with. The former cricketer applauded Patidar’s calmness in tense situations and rotation of bowlers, among other captaincy attributes.
“Rajat Patidar, he was given the responsibility of leading a huge franchise. A lot of people had different opinions, but the management chose someone who they saw a future with, and he’s done a tremendous job,” Rangarajan said in the pre-match press conference ahead of RCB’s away fixture against Delhi Capitals (DC) at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Sunday, April 27.
“All the games that he’s captained, we’ve had various games, a few games where there wasn’t too much pressure, and there were games where the pressure was right up, and he has conducted himself in a manner where there’s absolute calmness and clarity in decision making, the way he’s rotated his bowlers. That shows how good he has been this year, and like I said, there’s a second half of the IPL to go and we hope he continues that way,” he added.
RCB and DC eye crucial win in playoff race
RCB and DC have the same number of points (12) at the moment. However, Delhi has played eight matches compared to RCB’s nine. Both teams are in a strong position to make the playoffs. Fans can expect a humdinger of a contest on Sunday.
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