Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) appointed Rajat Patidar as their new captain for the IPL 2025. Virat Kohli looked favourite to make his return as RCB's captain but the franchise had other plans. Rajat, who joined RCB in IPL 2021, will become their 8th captain. Interestingly, Rajat hasn't played a T20I for India yet.

The right-handed batsman has played 3 Tests and one ODI. Rajat's rise to fame started in IPL 2022 when he slammed a century in the IPL 2022 eliminator against Lucknow Super Giants. He followed up with a half-century in the second qualifier against Rajasthan Royals, which RCB lost. Rajat made his ODI debut in 2023 and played 3 Tests next year. He isn't part of Team India now.

Rajat wasn't originally supposed to feature in the IPL 2022 season as he went unsold in the mega-auction. He decided to get married during IPL 2022 and was slated to tie the knot on May 9. RCB called up Rajat as a replacement player and there has been no looking back for him since then.

"The plan was to get him married on May 9. It was supposed to be a small function and I had booked a hotel too in Indore. The marriage was not supposed to be a grand affair, so we didn't get invitation cards printed. I have booked a hotel for limited guests but the booking has been advanced as we plan to hold the function in July once he is free from his responsibility with the Madhya Pradesh Ranji team," Rajat's father told The New Indian Express in 2022.

RCB retained Rajat before the IPL 2025 mega-auction for Rs 11 crore. They also retained the services of Virat Kohli and Yash Dayal. Rajat will have his task cut out as RCB haven't won an IPL trophy yet. They haven't made it to an IPL final since 2016. Rajat captained Madhya Pradesh to the final of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy in the 2024/25 season.

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