Royal Challengers Bengaluru New Captain: Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) on Thursday announced its captain for IPL 2025. The new captain of RCB is Rajat Patidar. RCB announced Patidar's name in a special program. His fortunes brightened in four years. He made his IPA debut for RCB in 2021.

However, this is a bit surprising news for Virat Kohli's fans, because the Cricket King will not be seen as the captain. Batsman Rajat Patidar has been declared the captain of Royal Challengers Bangalore. The franchise announced the captain's name in a press conference today i.e. on February 13. Rajat Patidar won many matches last season on the basis of his brilliant batting.

During the press conference, a video of Virat Kohli was also shown, in which he praised Rajat Patidar and announced his appointment as the captain. He said- Rajat Patidar has flourished in this franchise. He has the ability. We all will support him. We all want him to take the greatness of the team forward. Kohli also told the fans- I hope the new captain Rajat will get a lot of support.

"Rajat, firstly, I want to congratulate you. Wish you all the very best. Thank you for the way you have grown in this franchise and the way you have performed. You have really made a place in the hearts of all the fans of RCB all over India. And they get really excited to watch you play. So, this is very well deserved. And to tell you that myself and the other team members will be right behind you. And you will have all our support to grow into this role," said Kohli in a video message at the press conference.

"Last year I spoke to Mo and he asked if I wanted to captain RCB. I told him that I would prefer leading the state team first. When I found out that there is a discussion between me and Virat for the captaincy, I was pleased that what I was doing was working. I can't quite explain that feeling."- Rajat's first reaction as captaincy discussion.

"I have worked alongside Kohli. It is an opportunity for me. His experience, his ideas and thoughts will help me in the leadership"

Did you speak to him? "I haven't had much of a chance because he's been busy. The way he reads the game, I want to add that strength to my captaincy" - Rajat on working alongside Virat Kohli.

IPL career of Rajat Patidar

Rajat Patidar has been a part of Royal Challengers Bangalore since 2021. He got only 4 matches in the first season, while he scored 71 runs. However, in 2022, he scored 333 runs in 8 matches including a century, while the strike rate was 152.75. His bat also spoke a lot in 2024. He scored 395 runs in 13 innings of 15 matches. During this, his strike rate was 177.13. In his IPL career, he has 799 runs in 27 matches, including one century and 7 half-centuries.

RCB Full Squad for IPL 2025: Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, Yash Dayal, Liam Livingstone, Phil Salt, Jitesh Sharma, Josh Hazlewood, Rasikh Dar, Suyash Sharma, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Swapnil Singh, Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Nuwan Thushara, Manoj Bhandage, Jacob Bethell, Devdutt Padikkal, Swastik Chhikara, Lungi Ngidi, Abhinandan Singh, Mohit Rathee.