IPL 2025: Rajat Patidar credits this Indian legend for learning batting on spin tracks

Rajat Patidar is the skipper of RCB in IPL 2025.

Indian cricketer Rajat Patidar has credited an Indian cricketer to learn tactics of batting on spin tracks and it’s not Virat Kohli. Patidar has named a former Indian cricketer whose batting helped him develop his ability against spinners.

Notably, Patidar is the skipper of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025. Kohli is the opener for RCB in IPL 2025 and has done a marvellous job in batting. The right-handed batsman has slammed seven half-centuries in the season and is the leading run-getter of the side.

Patidar has done a marvellous job as skipper so far. RCB grab the second spot in the IPL 2025 points table with 16 points; equal to that of top-ranked Gujarat Titans (GT). They are just one victory away from sealing their berth in the playoffs. RCB have won eight games and lost only three out of 11 so far.

Rajat Patidar developed abilities against spin tracks from Rahul Dravid

During the latest episode of RCB podcast, Patidar revealed he learnt batting on spin tracks by watching former Indian batting legend Rahul Dravid. Notably, Dravid is the second-highest run-scorer for India in test cricket after Sachin Tendulkar.

“I saw a lot of his [Rahul Dravid] batting in Test matches, especially on spin tracks. The way he used his footwork, whether it was the front foot or the back foot, and how he used the crease, I got to learn a lot from him,” Patidar said.

Patidar also added that playing on spin tracks during his club coaching days also helped him develop excellence with the spin.

“When I started at the club level, most games were on unprepared wickets. You did not get well-prepared surfaces, so I gradually got used to playing spin. Before my Ranji debut, we had a home-and-away format where the home team prepared the wickets”, the 31-year-old said.

“Since we had three quality spinners, we opted for spin-friendly tracks, and I knew I would be playing on a square-turner. There was only one thought in my mind: if I had to score runs on those pitches, I needed to develop that shot. It is a shot that can put pressure on bowlers on turning tracks,” he further added.

Notably, Patidar has already made his international debut for India. He has played three tests and one ODI for the national team. He made his debut in December 2023. Meanwhile, the RCB skipper has shown decent form with the bat in IPL 2025.

He has mustered 239 runs in 10 innings at a strike rate of 140.58. He has also slammed two half-centuries in the league. RCB will play three more games in the league stage of IPL 2025. They will clash with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on May 17 at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.

The RCB vs KKR match is the first game after the resumption of the league; which was suspended on May 9 by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

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