# Rajat Patidar (रजत पटीदार)
**Rajat Patidar** (रजत पटीदार; full name Rajat Manohar Patidar) is an Indian cricketer, a top-order batter from [Madhya Pradesh](https://www.edgepedia.org/madhya-pradesh) who captains Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the [Indian Premier League](https://www.edgepedia.org/indian-premier-league) and has led the franchise to back-to-back IPL titles in 2025 and 2026.[1](https://www.iplt20.com/index.php/teams/royal-challengers-bengaluru/squad-details/5471) • [2](https://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/players/108588-rajat-patidar-playerprofile/news) He has played Test, ODI, and T20I cricket for India, making his ODI debut against South Africa in 2023 and his Test debut against England in 2024.[1](https://www.iplt20.com/index.php/teams/royal-challengers-bengaluru/squad-details/5471)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name / origin | Rajat Manohar Patidar, born in Indore; began as a bowler and turned seriously to batting at the under-15 level[2](https://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/players/108588-rajat-patidar-playerprofile/news) • [3](https://www.cricbuzz.com/profiles/10636/rajat-patidar) |
| First-class debut | October 2015 against Baroda, scoring 60 and 101[4](https://crex.com/player/rajat-patidar-5S3) |
| Ranji Trophy | Winner with Madhya Pradesh in 2021–22, the state's maiden title, scoring a century in the final against Mumbai[5](https://www.espn.in/cricket/story/_/id/39375344/how-rajat-patidar-earned-selection-indias-test-squad) • [4](https://crex.com/player/rajat-patidar-5S3) |
| India caps | 3 Tests, 1 ODI, and 1 T20I[6](https://sports.ndtv.com/ipl-2026/rajat-patidar-a-calm-captain-and-solid-batter-nonchalantly-making-his-case-for-india-selection-strong-11559763) |
| IPL captaincy | First captain in IPL history to win two titles in his first two seasons as skipper (2025, 2026); joins MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma as the only captains to win back-to-back IPL titles[7](https://www.ipl.com/player/rajat-patidar) |
| IPL 2026 season | 501 runs at a strike rate of 192.69 in the middle order[8](https://www.indiatoday.in/sports/cricket/story/why-india-selectors-overlooked-rajat-patidar-after-rcb-second-straight-ipl-title-2922842-2026-06-06) |
| Domestic leadership | Captain of the Madhya Pradesh senior men's team across all formats for the 2025–26 season; Central Zone captain in the Duleep Trophy 2026[9](https://bsmedia.business-standard.com/_media/bs/data/announcements/bse/08102025/7563e69e-a68d-4749-8269-4a1a2a1b9765.pdf) • [2](https://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/players/108588-rajat-patidar-playerprofile/news) |
## Domestic career
Patidar was picked for a Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association under-14 camp, where the former India batter Chandrakant Pandurang "Chandu" Khurasiya took him under his wing.[10](https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/cricket/rajat-patidar-rcb-ipl-2026-future-final-gt-10717847/) He made a strong entrance into first-class cricket in October 2015 against Baroda, scoring 60 in the first innings and 101 in the second.[4](https://crex.com/player/rajat-patidar-5S3)
**Ranji Trophy title.** Batting mostly at Nos. 3 and 4 for Madhya Pradesh, he helped the state win its maiden [Ranji Trophy](https://www.edgepedia.org/ranji-trophy) title in June 2022, scoring a century in the final against Mumbai.[5](https://www.espn.in/cricket/story/_/id/39375344/how-rajat-patidar-earned-selection-indias-test-squad) • [4](https://crex.com/player/rajat-patidar-5S3) He averaged 59.04 in the Ranji Trophy from the post-Covid resumption of domestic first-class cricket at the start of 2022.[11](https://www.espn.com/cricket/story/_/id/40163127/ipl-2024-rajat-patidar-mentally-know-the-best-else-matter) In 2024 he made a statement innings in domestic cricket, 159 off 102 balls against Haryana, reaching his century in 68 deliveries.[12](https://www.hindustantimes.com/cricket/players/rajat-patidar-65687)
His domestic standing brought leadership roles: he captained a strong Rest of India side in the Irani Cup 2024, was named Madhya Pradesh captain for the 2025 [Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy](https://www.edgepedia.org/syed-mushtaq-ali-trophy), India's premier domestic T20 championship, and the Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association then handed him the reins of its senior men's team across all formats for the 2025–26 domestic season.[9](https://bsmedia.business-standard.com/_media/bs/data/announcements/bse/08102025/7563e69e-a68d-4749-8269-4a1a2a1b9765.pdf) • [3](https://www.cricbuzz.com/profiles/10636/rajat-patidar) In August 2026 he was named captain of Central Zone for the [Duleep Trophy](https://www.edgepedia.org/duleep-trophy), with Rinku Singh as vice-captain; his side, the defending champion after beating South Zone in the previous final, lost the first semi-final to East Zone by 4 wickets.[2](https://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/players/108588-rajat-patidar-playerprofile/news) • [13](https://indianexpress.com/about/rajat-patidar/)
## International career
Patidar's consistent domestic run earned him a maiden India cap in an ODI against South Africa in 2023, debuting in the 3rd ODI of the tour.[12](https://www.hindustantimes.com/cricket/players/rajat-patidar-65687) He was sidelined for much of 2023 by an Achilles injury that required surgery in London, and wondered at the time whether he had missed his chance.[5](https://www.espn.in/cricket/story/_/id/39375344/how-rajat-patidar-earned-selection-indias-test-squad) His career then climbed sharply: he scored 111 in a two-day match against the England Lions, then hit an innings of 151 from 158 deliveries in India A's total of 227 during the opening unofficial Test between the teams in [Ahmedabad](https://www.edgepedia.org/ahmedabad), and was added late to India's Test squad in place of [Virat Kohli](https://www.edgepedia.org/virat-kohli).[5](https://www.espn.in/cricket/story/_/id/39375344/how-rajat-patidar-earned-selection-indias-test-squad)
He made his Test debut against England in February 2024.[1](https://www.iplt20.com/index.php/teams/royal-challengers-bengaluru/squad-details/5471) His opportunities at international level have been limited: as of the 2026 IPL season he had played three ODIs, one T20I, and three Tests, and had not impressed in the limited chances he received.[6](https://sports.ndtv.com/ipl-2026/rajat-patidar-a-calm-captain-and-solid-batter-nonchalantly-making-his-case-for-india-selection-strong-11559763)
## RCB captaincy
**Appointment.** RCB appointed Patidar captain ahead of the 2025 IPL season, taking over from [Faf du Plessis](https://www.edgepedia.org/faf-du-plessis).[14](https://apnews.com/article/d40e43758ed9addc0cdef425a3f88d9e) The choice was described as left-field, since Patidar had not even led at the domestic level when the franchise offered him the role; he took his time before accepting.[10](https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/cricket/rajat-patidar-rcb-ipl-2026-future-final-gt-10717847/) RCB's Director of Cricket Mo Bobat said the decision followed extensive discussions, including with Virat Kohli, who endorsed Patidar with the words "You have earned this role."[15](https://www.dailyheadlinestoday.com/media-webp/2025-02/ht-14-02-025.pdf) Kohli publicly called him "an amazing talent" with "a great head on his shoulders."[14](https://apnews.com/article/d40e43758ed9addc0cdef425a3f88d9e)
**Titles.** In his very first season as captain, Patidar led RCB to its first-ever IPL title, ending an 18-year drought.[6](https://sports.ndtv.com/ipl-2026/rajat-patidar-a-calm-captain-and-solid-batter-nonchalantly-making-his-case-for-india-selection-strong-11559763) In 2026 he took the side to a second consecutive final, where RCB beat [Gujarat Titans](https://www.edgepedia.org/gujarat-titans) by 5 wickets at the [Narendra Modi Stadium](https://www.edgepedia.org/narendra-modi-stadium) in Ahmedabad, with Kohli unbeaten on 75.[13](https://indianexpress.com/about/rajat-patidar/) That made Patidar the first captain in IPL history to win two titles in his first two seasons as skipper, and placed him alongside [MS Dhoni](https://www.edgepedia.org/ms-dhoni) and Rohit Sharma as the only captains to win back-to-back IPL titles.[7](https://www.ipl.com/player/rajat-patidar) • [16](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/ipl/ipl-2026/rajat-patidars-four-word-post-after-joining-ms-dhoni-rohit-sharma-with-back-to-back-ipl-titles/amp_articleshow/131433734.cms)
**Leadership style.** He describes himself as not very expressive and a little shy, and says calmness is the most important trait in a captain; because nothing shows on his face when a plan fails, his bowlers have assurance even on flat wickets.[17](https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/cricket/rajat-patidar-technique-fast-bowlers-rcb-captain-ipl-2026-10711671/) RCB's gameplan under him, in his own words, is mostly "to dominate as much as we can," and he has said that if a batter can hit a bowler for six, he should not take a single.[17](https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/cricket/rajat-patidar-technique-fast-bowlers-rcb-captain-ipl-2026-10711671/)
## Batting and the 2026 season
Patidar was always strong against spin, and after the triumphant 2025 season he worked on a new trigger movement to deal with fast bowlers, testing it at home, discussing it with RCB mentor [Dinesh Karthik](https://www.edgepedia.org/dinesh-karthik), and repeating it until it felt right.[17](https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/cricket/rajat-patidar-technique-fast-bowlers-rcb-captain-ipl-2026-10711671/) The change coincided with his strongest IPL season: he scored 501 runs at a strike rate of 192.69 in IPL 2026, combining consistency with aggression in the middle order.[8](https://www.indiatoday.in/sports/cricket/story/why-india-selectors-overlooked-rajat-patidar-after-rcb-second-straight-ipl-title-2922842-2026-06-06) Before the final, NDTV's season figures stood at 486 runs in 14 matches at an average of 44.18 with five fifties.[6](https://sports.ndtv.com/ipl-2026/rajat-patidar-a-calm-captain-and-solid-batter-nonchalantly-making-his-case-for-india-selection-strong-11559763) His 93 off 33 balls against Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 1 drew praise from former India all-rounder [Ravichandran Ashwin](https://www.edgepedia.org/ravichandran-ashwin), who said selectors must be keeping an eye on him.[6](https://sports.ndtv.com/ipl-2026/rajat-patidar-a-calm-captain-and-solid-batter-nonchalantly-making-his-case-for-india-selection-strong-11559763)
In 42 IPL matches, Patidar has scored a total of 1,111 runs with a strike rate of 154.31, registering one hundred and nine fifties.[1](https://www.iplt20.com/index.php/teams/royal-challengers-bengaluru/squad-details/5471)
## Selection debate
Despite the two titles and his 2026 numbers, BCCI selectors left Patidar out of India's T20I squads for the 2026 tours of Ireland and England and the 2026 [Asian Games](https://www.edgepedia.org/asian-games).[18](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ai8hGn6ZhqM) Former India spinner [Harbhajan Singh](https://www.edgepedia.org/harbhajan-singh) was among the first to question the omission, arguing the batter had done enough after another outstanding IPL season, and former selector and 1983 World Cup-winning opener Krishnamachari Srikkanth called him snubbed while questioning other calls for the England and Ireland series.[19](https://www.hindustantimes.com/cricket/rajat-patidars-snub-deemed-unfair-as-harbhajan-says-hes-sad-for-suryakumar-yadav-too-after-t20i-captaincy-change-101780755533825.html) • [13](https://indianexpress.com/about/rajat-patidar/) Commentators note that India's T20I middle order is highly competitive, with Shreyas Iyer a proven front-runner and Suryakumar Yadav established at the highest level.[6](https://sports.ndtv.com/ipl-2026/rajat-patidar-a-calm-captain-and-solid-batter-nonchalantly-making-his-case-for-india-selection-strong-11559763) Patidar himself has played down the talk, saying before the 2026 final that no India comeback thoughts were on his mind and that his focus was on the final.[20](https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/cricket/rajat-patidar-on-india-comeback-after-strong-ipl-2026-not-looking-forward-10715948/) • [21](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/ipl/ipl-2026/rajat-patidar-plays-down-talk-of-t20-selection/articleshow/131418576.cms)
## References
1. [Rajat Patidar Profile, IPLT20.com](https://www.iplt20.com/index.php/teams/royal-challengers-bengaluru/squad-details/5471)
2. [Rajat Patidar News, NDTV Sports player profile](https://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/players/108588-rajat-patidar-playerprofile/news)
3. [Rajat Patidar Profile, Cricbuzz](https://www.cricbuzz.com/profiles/10636/rajat-patidar)
4. [Rajat Patidar Profile, Career & Stats, CREX](https://crex.com/player/rajat-patidar-5S3)
5. [How Rajat Patidar earned his selection to India's Test squad, ESPN](https://www.espn.in/cricket/story/_/id/39375344/how-rajat-patidar-earned-selection-indias-test-squad)
6. [Rajat Patidar, A Calm Captain And Solid Batter, NDTV Sports](https://sports.ndtv.com/ipl-2026/rajat-patidar-a-calm-captain-and-solid-batter-nonchalantly-making-his-case-for-india-selection-strong-11559763)
7. [Rajat Patidar IPL Career Stats, IPL](https://www.ipl.com/player/rajat-patidar)
8. [Why Rajat Patidar was ignored for India T20I call-up, India Today](https://www.indiatoday.in/sports/cricket/story/why-india-selectors-overlooked-rajat-patidar-after-rcb-second-straight-ipl-title-2922842-2026-06-06)
9. [Free Press Journal report on MPCA captaincy appointment (via Business Standard media)](https://bsmedia.business-standard.com/_media/bs/data/announcements/bse/08102025/7563e69e-a68d-4749-8269-4a1a2a1b9765.pdf)
10. [Rajat Patidar and the conversation that predicted RCB's future, The Indian Express](https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/cricket/rajat-patidar-rcb-ipl-2026-future-final-gt-10717847/)
11. [Patidar: 'Mentally I should know that I am the best', ESPN](https://www.espn.com/cricket/story/_/id/40163127/ipl-2024-rajat-patidar-mentally-know-the-best-else-matter)
12. [Rajat Patidar Profile, Hindustan Times](https://www.hindustantimes.com/cricket/players/rajat-patidar-65687)
13. [Rajat Patidar News, The Indian Express topic page](https://indianexpress.com/about/rajat-patidar/)
14. [Bumrah among the stars missing the start of the IPL's 18th season, AP News](https://apnews.com/article/d40e43758ed9addc0cdef425a3f88d9e)
15. [Headlines Today e-paper, 14 February 2025](https://www.dailyheadlinestoday.com/media-webp/2025-02/ht-14-02-025.pdf)
16. [RCB captain Rajat Patidar's four-word post after joining MS Dhoni, Rohit Sharma, The Times of India](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/ipl/ipl-2026/rajat-patidars-four-word-post-after-joining-ms-dhoni-rohit-sharma-with-back-to-back-ipl-titles/amp_articleshow/131433734.cms)
17. [How a little tweak in his technique made Rajat Patidar a beast against fast bowlers, The Indian Express](https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/cricket/rajat-patidar-technique-fast-bowlers-rcb-captain-ipl-2026-10711671/)
18. [Rajat Patidar not selected in Team India, SportsNext (YouTube)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ai8hGn6ZhqM)
19. [Rajat Patidar's snub deemed 'unfair', Hindustan Times](https://www.hindustantimes.com/cricket/rajat-patidars-snub-deemed-unfair-as-harbhajan-says-hes-sad-for-suryakumar-yadav-too-after-t20i-captaincy-change-101780755533825.html)
20. [Rajat Patidar on India comeback after strong IPL 2026, The Indian Express](https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/cricket/rajat-patidar-on-india-comeback-after-strong-ipl-2026-not-looking-forward-10715948/)
21. [Rajat Patidar plays down talk of T20 selection, The Times of India](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/ipl/ipl-2026/rajat-patidar-plays-down-talk-of-t20-selection/articleshow/131418576.cms)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Cricket › Cricket people and teams › People › Men's international cricketers › Indian men's cricketers › Indian cricketers of the 2000s and 2010s*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 18, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Sep 18, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
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