Real Timeline Behind RCB’s Decision to Make Rajat Patidar Captain Revealed!

Aakash Chopra criticized Mo Bobat's remarks, questioning how RCB could 'nudge' Rajat Patidar into a domestic cricket captaincy role.

Real Timeline Behind RCB’s Decision to Make Rajat Patidar Captain Revealed!

RCB director Mo Bobat revealed the timeline behind Rajat Patidar's appointment as captain. (via Mint)

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Following Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s maiden IPL triumph, the team’s Director of Cricket, Mo Bobat, explained the detailed timeline for naming Rajat Patidar as captain before the 2025 season. Bobat clarified that the decision was a long-term plan, not a quick or spontaneous choice.

In the months leading up to the 2025 IPL season, Rajat Patidar took over the captaincy from South African veteran Faf du Plessis. While there was widespread speculation that Virat Kohli would reclaim the captaincy for the franchise, which had previously never won an IPL title, RCB moved swiftly to end the rumors. The team announced Patidar as the new captain, while Kohli chose to continue his role as a player.

The 2025 IPL season saw a dramatic turnaround for RCB, as they advanced to the final for the fifth time in the IPL’s 18-year history. In a tense and historic final, RCB secured their first-ever championship victory against the Punjab Kings.

Although captain Patidar had a modest season with the bat, scoring just 312 runs at an average of 24, his leadership was widely praised, as he became only the fourth captain to win the title in his debut season.

In a recent interview with Cricbuzz, Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s Director of Cricket Mo Bobat explained the team’s deliberate strategy in choosing Patidar, refuting claims that it was a lucky post-auction gamble. Bobat revealed that the franchise had considered Patidar for a leadership role since the 2024 season, after his impressive performance in a 60-run victory against the Punjab Kings in Dharamshala.

Bobat further revealed that he had his first conversation with Patidar midway through the 2024 season, about a potential leadership role. He explained that with Du Plessis getting older, the team was looking for an Indian captain but did not want to spend much at the auction.

Bobat considered Patidar, as the only other captaincy option besides Kohli, and noted that the 32-year-old was initially surprised by the offer but later admitted to having his own aspirations of leading the team.

Actually, the thought on Rajat [Patidar] was even earlier than what people might have thought. So midway through the 2024 season, I remember being sat with him at practice, and I first spoke to him about captaincy and leadership.

Interestingly, Bobat also disclosed that the RCB management subtly influenced a captaincy change in the Madhya Pradesh cricket team. To give Patidar the leadership experience he needed before taking charge of RCB, they spoke with then-head coach Chandrakant Pandit.

Rajat Patidar led the team to the final of the 2024 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, where they lost to Mumbai. After discussions with RCB head coach Andy Flower and gaining Virat Kohli’s approval, he added that Patidar was officially named captain.

So, he [Rajat Patidar] spoke to Chandu [Chandrakant Pandit], his coach at MP, and thankfully for us they allowed him to captain the team. And then Andy [Flower] and I, before going into the auction, we also wanted to identify other potential captaincy options that we might recruit.

Mo Bobat also shared that the franchise considered several other players for the captaincy. He further disclosed that he had discussion with their new 2025 recruits, including Jitesh Sharma and Krunal Pandya, before ultimately settling on Rajat Patidar.

RCB’s Mohammed Siraj Decision: A Strategic Move to Secure Bhuvneshwar Kumar

RCB’s Director Mo Bobat provided a surprising explanation for the franchise’s decision to not retain long-time fast bowler Mohammed Siraj ahead of the 2025 IPL mega auction. Bobat stated that the team made a strategic choice to prioritize signing veteran pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar.

RCB Mohammed Siraj not retained
RCB director Mo Bobat revealed reason behind the team not retained Mohammed Siraj’s services. (via India Today)

Mohammed Siraj had taken over 80 wickets for RCB, over seven season. Despite his performance, the 31-year-old was left off the retention list, a move that baffled many. Bobat explained that the team engaged in prolonged discussions with Siraj about his future but could not reach an agreement. Furthermore, RCB had its sights set on acquiring Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who was released by Sunrisers Hyderabad.

We were keen to try and get Bhuvi [Bhuvneshwar Kumar] and we felt like hanging on to [Mohammed] Siraj would make it difficult to get Bhuvi, so that was something that we thought about as well.

This led to Siraj’s departure from Bengaluru, in search of a new opportunity. He was subsequently picked up by Gujarat Titans for a significant sum of INR 12.25 crores at the auction. Siraj went on to have a strong season, taking 16 wickets, just one fewer than Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s 17 wickets.

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