Rajat Patidar throughout an ipl 2024 match between RCB and Chennai Tremendous Kings. , Photograph Credit score: File Photograph: Ok. Bhagya Prakash
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) sprang a shock when untested Rajat Patidar was named because the captain for IPL 2025. And thus a brand new period begins for a franchise which has seen seven captains previously β from Rahul Dravid, Kevin Pietersen, Anil Kumble all the best way to Faf du Plessis.
Patidar, who grew to become the Madhya Pradesh skipper simply final 12 months, now faces the unenviable job of guiding RCB to a maiden IPL trophy.
For starters, Patidar wants to claim his authority and win his teammates over rapidly, provided that RCB Director of Cricket Mo Bobat muddied the waters by insisting that celebrity Virat Kohli βdoesnβt want a captaincy title to steerβ.
Patidar may also must extract the most effective out of a squad which is way from good. There’s excellent news within the high of the batting order, with the signing of a fearless stroke participant in Phil Salt.
The Englishman can do severe harm within the PowerPlay, and is effectively suited to make up for his extra sedate opening associate, Kohli.
Patidar, a constant run-maker, holds the important thing within the middle-order. Liam Livingstone, one other new signing, is round to supply acceleration at quantity 4.
Weak hyperlinks
The finisher roles, for a while a weak hyperlink for RCB, will likely be donned by Tim David, Krunal Pandya and Jitesh Sharma. David returns to a workforce he represented within the 2021 season, the place he featured in only one recreation.
Wicketkeeper-batter Jitesh impressed for Punjab Kings in IPL 2022 and 2023, however underperformed within the final version. The spin unit, so essential to T20 success, seems thread naked.
Skilled left-arm spinner Krunal is compelled to take the lead, even when his finest days are behind him. Suyash Sharma, who picked three wickets in his IPL debut two years in the past in opposition to RCB, is the one different recognised spinner.
The tempo load will likely be dealt with by Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood and Yash Dayal. The trio is a handful with the brand new ball, however is way from environment friendly within the dying overs.
There are damage considerations as effectively, as the provision of Hazlewood and Jacob Bethell is below a cloud.
Revealed – March 12, 2025 12:28 on is
