A leader doesn't need a captaincy title to lead a franchise.
The player, who has played a vital role in his team's and the state of Madhya Pradesh's success over the years, was selected as the new captain of the Red and Gold team ahead of the 2025 season.
as well.
Of course, Virat was a natural choice, and it's only logical to consider him for the captaincy. Fans would likely have supported him initially, and we've seen a significant amount of enthusiasm for Rajat as well. My point about Virat is that he doesn't require a formal captaincy title to lead. I believe leadership is one of his most natural qualities, and it's something that comes to him instinctively. He has a natural ability to lead, regardless of the title.
Bob lavished praise on Virat, saying he is a leader in every sense of the word.
Everyone in the country and globally recognizes Virat as a leader in every aspect. Andy Flower, our head coach, and I rely heavily on him. Faf has also leaned on him significantly, and we're confident that Rajat will also be looking up to him.
The Director of Cricket for the Royal Challengers Bangalore stated that Kohli was present during the meeting in which Patidar was selected as the new captain for the Bengaluru-based team prior to the 2025 season.
Andrew and I spent some time with Virat earlier this week in Ahmedabad, and it was great getting to spend time with him and discuss his thoughts about the captaincy. What was clear was how enthusiastic he was about this appointment and the decision he made. He's really happy for Rajat, just like us. Virat recognizes how deserving Rajat is of this opportunity and is fully supportive of him.
Patidar holds captaincy experience with the Madhya Pradesh team across all formats. In the previous year's Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, he led MP to the finals and played a key role in their campaign with 428 runs in 10 matches at an average of 61.14, a strike rate exceeding 186 and five half-centuries, finishing as the second-highest run-scorer in the tournament.
One of Patidar's notable strengths is his ability to excel against spin and hit sixes against them with ease.
He has been one of RCB's most notable Indian talents since 2022, scoring 799 runs in 24 innings at an average of 34.73 and a strike rate of 158.84, with a century and seven fifties. His century against LSG during the 2022 IPL eliminator is a standout knock, making him the first uncapped player with a century in the IPL playoffs.
Last season with RCB, he scored 395 runs in 13 matches, averaging over 30 and striking at a rate above 177, with five half-centuries. His impactful innings were pivotal in RCB's late charge into the playoffs, having won just one game in their first eight matches.
He has also played an ODI and three Tests for India, making his international debut against South Africa at the end of 2023, scoring a fiery 22-run knock.
In Tests, he had a tough time against England at home last year, managing only 63 runs across six innings, with his highest score being 32.