"It is special being captain of RCB" – Faf du Plessis to Rajat Patidar

The Royal Challengers Bengaluru announced their captain for IPL 2025 and it was none other than Rajat Patidar. The 31-year-old middle-order batter proved to be a vital point in the RCB echelons and his phenomenal run in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2024-25 saw him leading the Madhya Pradesh side to the grand finale.

Patidar became the eighth captain for RCB, taking over the reins from Faf du Plessis. Du Plessis spearheaded the side for the last three years, propelling the Royal Challengers to two play-offs. Patidar, meanwhile, made his IPL debut in 2021 and has been a part of the franchise ever since.

Faf, as the outgoing captain, had a special message for Patidar. In a Bold Diaries video released by RCB, Faf congratulated Patidar for his new role and also wished him all the best for the upcoming days.

Du Plessis said, “I am so happy to congratulate you, Rajat, on being the new RCB captain. I am officially passing the baton over to you. It’s a great honour to captain any IPL team but it is really special being the captain of RCB. It is truly a great fanbase and you will see that the owners will be there to support you all the way. Also, coaching staff is there with their experience to guide you, making sure that you find your feet and have a great time as the captain.”

He further added, “You already have a great leadership team with you that will be there with you to support you all the way. They will help you mentally to get tough. But more importantly, keep on whacking the balls for sixes. I think that is your biggest strength. All the best for you, buddy. I think you will do a great job. See you around.”