RCB's Patidar Recovers from Injury Ahead of IPL Resumption

Royal Challengers Bengaluru's player Patidar has made a promising recovery from his injury just in time for the IPL 2025 resumption. With the team eager to have him fit for their upcoming match against Kolkata Knight Riders, his performance will be crucial as RCB aims for a top-two finish. The team is also adjusting to the loss of Devdutt Padikkal due to injury, with Mayank Agarwal stepping in. As the playoffs approach, RCB's strategy and player performance will be key to their success.

By Narendra Chaudhary May 16, 2025, 22:53 IST

Patidar's Injury and Recovery

Royal Challengers Bengaluru's player, Patidar, faced an injury just a day prior to their last IPL 2025 match against Chennai Super Kings. Fortunately, the mid-season break in the tournament provided RCB and their captain with the necessary time to recover from the injury.

After a significant hiatus, Patidar returned to the nets for over 30 minutes of batting practice. Although he opted out of fielding drills and catching exercises, his batting performance was impressive. He is optimistic about making a comeback in RCB's first match following the IPL's resumption. After completing some throwdown drills, the medical team cleared him to continue. Despite some taping on his right hand, Patidar faced more than 30 overs in the nets, demonstrating that his technique remains strong despite the injury concerns.

Upcoming Matches and Team Performance

Under the leadership of Virat Kohli, Royal Challengers Bangalore is eager to have their captain fully fit for the crucial match against Kolkata Knight Riders on May 17, marking the first game after the IPL 2025 break.

Patidar had a promising start to the season, accumulating 175 runs in his first five innings. However, his form declined in the subsequent five innings, with a top score of only 23. Overall, he has scored 239 runs in 10 innings at a strike rate of 140.58, which includes two half-centuries.

His performance will be vital for RCB as they aim for a top-two finish, currently positioned second on the table with 16 points after winning eight out of their 11 matches. Patidar's leadership has been commendable, making strategic decisions that reward high-performing players and providing opportunities to young talents like Suyash Sharma and Rasikh Salam Dar.

Team Adjustments and Challenges

As the season progresses, RCB has also faced challenges with the loss of Devdutt Padikkal, their No. 3 batter, due to a hamstring injury. Mayank Agarwal has stepped in as his replacement and is anticipated to bat at No. 3 in the upcoming matches. Additionally, Jacob Bethell will miss the IPL playoffs as he has been called up for England's white-ball squad for the series against West Indies later this month.