Rajat Patidar Shines as RCB's New Captain in IPL 2023
Rajat Patidar Takes Charge of RCB
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], April 8: In a season brimming with unexpected twists, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) has welcomed a fresh leader who is making a significant impact. Rajat Patidar, taking the helm for the first time in the Indian Premier League (IPL), has guided the team to a remarkable start, securing victories in three out of their initial four matches.
Patidar's dual role as a captain and batsman has been nothing short of exceptional. Following RCB's triumph over the Mumbai Indians (MI), teammate Devdutt Padikkal praised Patidar's leadership during the post-match conference.
“Rajat is performing exceptionally well, especially considering it’s his first time captaining in the IPL. His ability to manage both on-field and off-field situations, along with his batting contributions, is truly admirable,” Padikkal remarked.
Under Patidar's leadership, RCB has triumphed over some of the most formidable teams in IPL history, including Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Chennai Super Kings (CSK), and Mumbai Indians (MI). Notably, these victories were achieved on the opponents' home grounds.
In four matches, Patidar has amassed 161 runs, featuring two half-centuries. His composed and strategic batting style has provided essential stability to the RCB lineup.
As the season progresses, early indications suggest a bright future for RCB, potentially marked by Patidar's influence.
In the recent match, MI won the toss and chose to field first.
Despite an early exit for Phil Salt, Virat Kohli (67 runs off 42 balls, including eight fours and two sixes) and Devdutt Padikkal (37 runs off 22 balls, with two fours and three sixes) ensured MI would regret their decision, forming a dynamic 91-run partnership. Following their dismissal, captain Rajat Patidar (64 runs off 32 balls, with five fours and four sixes) and Jitesh Sharma (40* off 19 balls, with two fours and four sixes) maintained a high run rate, leading RCB to a total of 221/5.
MI's Hardik Pandya (2/45) and Trent Boult (2/57) each took two wickets but conceded many runs, while Vignesh Puthur also claimed a wicket. Jasprit Bumrah returned with figures of 0/29 in four overs.
During MI's chase, they found themselves at 99/4 after 12 overs. However, a thrilling 89-run partnership between Tilak Varma (56 runs off 29 balls, with four boundaries and four sixes) and Hardik Pandya (42 runs off 15 balls, with three fours and four sixes) posed a significant threat to RCB.
Nevertheless, Krunal (4/45), Josh Hazlewood (2/37), and Bhuvneshwar Kumar (1/48) delivered crucial wickets at pivotal moments, securing a 12-run victory for RCB.
Currently, RCB sits in third place with three wins and one loss from four matches, with all victories achieved away from home. In contrast, MI has managed only one win out of five games, placing them in eighth position.