Faf du Plessis has been replaced as the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) captain for the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) season, with Rajat Patidar announced as the new captain. The announcement came on February 13, 2025.
The 31-year-old middle-order batsman has been one of the stalwarts for RCB since 2021 when he joined the franchise. He rose to fame with a brilliant hundred in the 2022 IPL eliminator, establishing himself as a reliable performer.
In his domestic cricket career, Patidar had recently captained Madhya Pradesh to the finals of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy which shows his ability to lead the team.
Patidar’s appointment as captain follows the departure of Faf du Plessis, who led RCB from 2022 to 2024, to the Delhi Capitals.
They, however, decided against reinstating Virat Kohli as captain despite his popular demand and instead went for Patidar, citing that he is a positive influence in the dressing room and that he has leadership qualities.
Andy Flower, head coach, is hopeful that Patidar will help fortify RCB’s campaign this year.
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Virat Kohli, captain of RCB from 2013-21, backed the decision, saying, “I’ve done it for many years, and it’s time for new generation to take over. He’s a great player and an even better leader.”
RCB’s Director of Cricket, Mo Bobat, admitted that Kohli was part of the conversation for the role but added that the management felt that appointing Patidar would keep the team’s leadership refreshed.
As we head into a new season, fans and analysts alike can’t wait to see what Patidar finds as a leader and how his impact will affect RCB as they chase their maiden IPL title.
So for more details, you can see the official announcement:
