Thu Feb 13 12:49:13 UTC 2025: **RCB Appoints Patidar as Captain for IPL 2025**

BENGALURU, Feb 13, 2025 – Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) created a surprise on Thursday by naming Rajat Patidar as their captain for the upcoming IPL 2025 season. The announcement, made at a media event in Bengaluru, came despite the presence of star player and former captain Virat Kohli.

RCB Team Director Mo Bobat explained that while Kohli was a strong contender, the team ultimately chose Patidar. “Virat was an option – that goes without saying. But we’ve seen a lot of love for Rajat too. Virat doesn’t need a captaincy title to lead,” Bobat stated. Kohli himself offered his full support to Patidar in a video message, congratulating his teammate on the appointment. Head coach Andy Flower declined to confirm whether Kohli had been offered the captaincy.

Bobat further clarified that RCB hadn’t prioritized securing a captain at the player auction, opting instead to build a strong squad with multiple leadership options. This strategy led them to bypass several experienced captaincy candidates like K.L. Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, and Rishabh Pant. “We wanted to focus on assembling the right team, rather than just hunting for an individual to fulfil a leadership role,” Bobat emphasized.

Patidar, a 31-year-old batsman signed by RCB in 2021, recently led Madhya Pradesh to the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy final and also captained the state team in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. He expressed his happiness at the appointment, noting a prior conversation with Bobat where he expressed a desire to captain a state team before potentially leading RCB. He described his captaincy style as calm and supportive, focusing on boosting player confidence.

Patidar’s journey with RCB has been remarkable. After being released and unsold in 2022, he rejoined the team as a replacement player and has since become a vital member of the middle order. His appointment marks a significant turning point for both him and the RCB franchise.

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