May 16,IPL 2025: Rajat Patidar, who is leading the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) team in IPL 2025, was very disappointed about the 2022 season when the franchise ignored him in the players’ auction despite assurances. Patidar, who joined the team as a replacement for an injured player, said that he was sad and angry then. He himself has revealed this in a podcast.
Patidar was feeling pressure after being handed over the captaincy
Patidar also said that he was under pressure because Virat Kohli had given him the captaincy before the 2025 Indian Premier League, but the words of encouragement from this great player helped him relax. This season, Patidar has been a key member of the RCB middle order. He has scored 239 runs in 11 matches. His goal is to give the team its first IPL title.
Rajat was not keen to return to Bangalore
Patidar, however, was not keen to return to Bangalore, as he knew that he would hardly get a chance to play in a team full of big players. He said, ‘After the auction did not select me, I started playing in my local matches in Indore.’ I then got a call that we are selecting you in place of Lavnith Sisodia.’ Sisodia was out of the team that season due to injury.
‘Did not want to come as a substitute for any player’
Patidar said, ‘To be honest, I did not want to come as a substitute for any player because I felt that I would not get a chance to play there. I always feel that I do not want to sit there (in the dugout).’ Patidar, who played an important role in taking Madhya Pradesh to the final of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy in 2024-25 as captain, said, ‘I was angry for a while but then I became normal.’
‘Kohli boosted my morale’
Patidar said that he was feeling pressure after getting the captaincy from a great player like Kohli, but the encouraging words of this star batsman filled him with confidence. He said, ‘I had many questions in my mind, like there are many big players in the team. Kohli’s status is very big, how can I ask him to do something? However, I got his full support in this matter.’
Getting the command of RCB is one of the most memorable days for him’
He said that getting the command of RCB is one of the most memorable days for him and when Kohli handed over this responsibility to him, he became very emotional. Rajat said, ‘I have seen Kohli playing on television for a long time. Then I got a chance to play with him in IPL and Indian team and when I got the responsibility of captaincy from him, I became a little worried and emotional.’ He told, ‘Kohli told me that I deserve it and I have earned it. This boosted my morale a lot.’
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