Rajat Patidar has been appointed captain of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) for IPL 2025, which begins on March 21. The announcement was widely expected that it would be Virat Kohli who leads RCB once again.

Patidar Captain Experence :

Patidar, 31, was one of three players RCB retained ahead of the mega auction in November. While this will be his first captaincy stint in the IPL, he captained his state team Madhya Pradesh in the 2024-25 seasons of the 20-over Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and the 50-over Vijay Hazare Trophy.

RCB SPECIAL VIDEO FOR CAPTAIN RAJAT PATIDAR 👑 pic.twitter.com/jBXeQpgDb7

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) February 13, 2025

RCB have not won the IPL title yet, though they have been finalists three times, the last of which was in 2016. They have made the playoffs in four of the last five seasons, including in 2024.

ALSO SEE : IPL 2025: RCB announce captain

Virat on Rajat Patidar  :

“Rajat, I want to congratulate you, the way you have grown in this franchise, you have made a place in the heart of fans of RCB all over India. This is very well deserved, I tell you that myself and the other team members will be right behind you,” says Virat Kohli. “Show him absolute support, get right behind him, he will always do what's best for the team, best for the franchise.”