Rajat Patidar, one of India’s promising batters, has expressed his readiness to take on the responsibility of leading Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the upcoming IPL 2025 season. Speaking about his retention by the franchise, Patidar said, “Yes, definitely. RCB is a big franchise, and I love playing for them. Being retained gave me a lot of confidence.”
With RCB releasing Faf du Plessis, discussions have been rife about who will step into the captaincy role. The 31-year-old Patidar has emerged as a strong contender to lead the side in the new season.
“If I get the opportunity to lead RCB, I will be happy. That’s what I am there for. But the final decision lies with the franchise,” Patidar added. Currently captaining Madhya Pradesh, he has guided his team to their first-ever Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) final, where they will face Mumbai on Sunday. Patidar is expected to play a pivotal role in the match.
“I’ve learned a lot from captaincy and have enjoyed understanding tactics. I love observing players and anticipating their moves,” he said, reflecting on his leadership journey.
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Despite a strong domestic season, Patidar’s brief stint with the Indian Test team earlier this year did not go as planned. In six innings against England, he managed to score only 63 runs.
“I enjoyed being part of the Test team, but I do feel bad about missing the opportunity. However, I’ve learned to accept failures in cricket. They are part of the journey. Acceptance is key, and I am focused on moving forward. I believe I can recreate the opportunity,” he concluded.