Rajat Patidar has officially been announced as the captain of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) for the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) season. The decision, confirmed by Director of Cricket Mo Bobat and head coach Andy Flower, marks a significant shift for the franchise after releasing former skipper Faf du Plessis. While fans speculated Virat Kohli's return to captaincy, the management chose to hand the reins to Patidar, betting on his instinct and recent leadership potential.

Patidar's journey with RCB began in 2021, but it was his spectacular 112* in the IPL 2022 Eliminator against Lucknow Super Giants that cemented his reputation as a match-winner. Despite missing the 2023 season due to injury, he remains one of RCB's key retained players, having amassed 799 runs in 27 matches at an impressive strike rate of 158.85.

"I’m not looking back; I'm looking forward. My captaincy will rely on instincts and tapping into the experience of senior players like Kohli," Patidar said in his first statement as captain.

The revamped RCB squad for IPL 2025 includes marquee signings like Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Liam Livingstone, and Phil Salt, adding depth to both batting and bowling. While releasing stalwarts like Glenn Maxwell and Mohammed Siraj surprised fans, the franchise aims to build a balanced side capable of lifting their maiden IPL trophy.

The big question remains: can Patidar translate his T20 brilliance into successful leadership? With RCB's loyal fanbase and a dynamic squad, the pressure is on the new captain to deliver.