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Rajat Patidar has emerged as Virat Kohli’s competitor for RCB’s vacant captaincy spot.
Can Rajat Patidar (L) take RCB’s captaincy ahead of Virat Kohli?
Madhya Pradesh batter Rajat Patidar is open to leading Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in IPL 2025 if the franchise presents him with the opportunity. The right-hander was RCB’s second retention ahead of the IPL 2025 auction and signed a contract worth INR 11 crore.
RCB released their last year’s skipper Faf du Plessis didn’t sign any other clear captaincy option in the auction and Patidar’s name has been doing the rounds to fill the vacuum.
It has coincided with his excellent form — 347 runs from nine matches at a strike rate of 182.6 — and effective leadership of Madhya Pradesh, who have booked a date with Mumbai in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy final on Sunday.
“Of course, if I get an opportunity to lead RCB, that is what I am there for, and I will be happy. But it all depends on the franchise,” Patidar said on the even of the big clash, as quoted by PTI.
Also read: ‘I Feel Bad That I Missed The Opportunity’: Rajat Patidar Looks Back At India Test Debut
He also said that RCB’s trust in him has helped his confidence.
“Yes, definitely. RCB is a big franchise and I love playing for RCB. So it (retention) gave me a lot of confidence that they retained me.”
Another name in the rumor mill is that of Virat Kohli. According to a few reports in India, RCB haven’t yet ruled out the possibility of Kohli making a leadership comeback after 2021.
There are other options, too, like Baroda captain Krunal Pandya, England’s recent stop-gap white-ball skipper Phil Salt and Uttar Pradesh’s senior pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar. However, all names will go against RCB’s pattern of appointing a superstar leader.
‘Chandrakant Pandit is the best coach in India’: Rajat Patidar
Patidar also credited Madhya Pradesh head coach Chandrakant Pandit, who won the IPL 2024 title with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for his growth as a captain.
“I have learned a lot from it. I have enjoyed learning the tactics. I love seeing players and anticipating what they can do. I have learned a lot about captaincy from my coach (Chandrakant Pandit). Everybody knows that he is the best coach in India,” he said.
Madhya Pradesh have never won SMAT while Mumbai are chasing their second title after 2022/23.
