Who will captain RCB if Rajat Patidar doesn’t recover from his injury ahead of KKR game?

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are set to kick off IPL 2025 resumption on Saturday. It is a key game for RCB in particular as they are just one win away from making it to the playoffs. KKR, on the other hand have to win both their final two matches to be in contention for a place in the playoffs. There is massive concern for RCB ahead of the game on Saturday surrounding Rajat Patidar’s injury. 

RCB skipper had injured his finger during the home game against Chennai Super Kings. As per reports carried by ESPN Cricinfo, the 32-year-old could miss a few games. With Patidar now out of action there is curiosity over who will lead RCB in their game against KKR at the Chinnaswamy Stadium. 

In such a scenario, Jitesh Sharma has been handed over the captaincy baton. RCB  was heard saying, “I was very grateful for the opportunity they were bestowing on me, that I was going to captain RCB, and it's a big thing for me and my family. As a player and as a captain, I was thinking about the right combination, as Devdutt and Rajat were unavailable, and replacing them would have been a big responsibility for sure." 

Bengaluru face massive issues ahead of playoffs

Young batter Devdutt Padikkal had already been ruled out of remainder of IPL 2025 due to injury. Veteran opener Mayank Agarwal was drafted in as the replacement ahead of the league’s suspension. Josh Hazlewood, who has been RCB’s best bowler so far this campaign is also out of the season due to an injury. With the WTC on the horizon Cricket Australia would want their veteran pacer to recover ahead of the key encounter. 

Jitesh Sharma has already led Punjab Kings in one game last campaign and lost the encounter. The 32-year-old is currently playing his first season of IPL for RCB and has scored 128 runs from 11 games with a strike rate of 149. His best of 40 not out came against Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium earlier this season.