How Rajat Patidar Became RCB’s Captain & India’s Rising Cricket Sensation! – Best11.in

The Indian Premier League (IPL) stands at the forefront of grooming young talents into exceptional cricketers, often serving as a platform for players to showcase performances that garner global attention. However, only those with exceptional skills manage to reach the national team and gain worldwide recognition through the IPL. One such young star, shining at the pinnacle of world cricket today after excelling in India’s domestic circuit, is Rajat Patidar. Born in 1993 in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, Patidar’s father was a businessman who recognized his son’s passion for cricket early on and enrolled him in a cricket club at the age of eight. 

Initially starting his career as a bowler, Patidar shifted his focus to batting at the Under-15 level, which marked the beginning of significant growth in his career. He made his first-class debut on December 30, 2015, during the 2015-16 Ranji Trophy tournament. Consistently performing well in India’s domestic cricket, Patidar’s standout season came in the 2018-19 Ranji Trophy, where he scored 713 runs in eight matches, becoming Madhya Pradesh’s highest scorer. 

His IPL journey began in 2021 when Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) acquired him. In that season, he played only four matches, scoring 71 runs. In the following season’s auction, he went unsold but later joined RCB as a replacement player. Patidar’s consistent performances for RCB culminated in a remarkable century against Lucknow in the IPL Eliminator, earning him the record of being the first uncapped player to score a century in the IPL playoffs. Retained by RCB in 2023, he was sidelined by injury that season but bounced back in 2024, scoring 395 runs in 13 matches. 

This led to his selection as RCB’s captain for the 2025 IPL season, where his leadership and confidence played a significant role in the team’s successes. In international cricket, Patidar made his ODI debut in December 2023 against South Africa, scoring 22 runs, and achieved his Test debut in 2024. While he is not yet a regular in India’s national team, there is strong anticipation that his continued excellence will secure his place in future matches.