Rajat Patidar Set to Lead Royal Challengers Bengaluru in IPL 2025 Qualifier 1 Against Punjab Kings
In a thrilling turn of events, Rajat Patidar is all set to feature in today’s Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 Qualifier 1 clash between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Punjab Kings (PBKS) in Mullanpur, Chandigarh. What’s more, Patidar returns as RCB captain, walking out at the toss alongside PBKS skipper Shreyas Iyer. This move suggests that Patidar has recovered from his finger injury, which had relegated him to an impact player role in the last two matches, with Jitesh Sharma standing in as captain.
Patidar’s captaincy has been a highlight of RCB’s season, guiding the team to the playoffs. His presence on the field will undoubtedly boost the team’s morale and chances in this crucial game. However, the star batter has struggled to find his rhythm and score runs in recent matches. With only 271 runs from 13 innings at an average of 22.58 and a strike-rate of 140.41, Patidar will be keen to lead from the front and deliver in this contest to take his team to the final.
The RCB Playing XI includes notable players like Virat Kohli, Philip Salt, Liam Livingstone, and Jitesh Sharma, while the Impact Subs list features Mayank Agarawal, Rasikh Salam, and Tim Seifert, among others. As the winner of the first qualifier heads directly to the final, Patidar will have the responsibility to come good in the middle order and put his poor form behind him.
This high-stakes match promises to be an exciting clash between two talented teams, with Patidar’s performance potentially being the deciding factor. Will he be able to rise to the occasion and lead RCB to victory, or will PBKS capitalize on his recent struggles? The cricket world waits with bated breath as these two teams face off in the IPL 2025 Qualifier 1.
