IPL 2025: Rajat Patidar's finger injury concern for RCB as resumption looms - Reports

Rajat Patidar-led RCB have 16 points and need one win to confirm a berth in IPL 2025 playoffs.

Rajat Patidar, captain of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), is currently recovering from a finger injury that would have sidelined him for at least two games if Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 had not been temporarily halted due to escalating cross-border tensions between India and Pakistan.

The tournament’s suspension has provided him with at least a week’s recovery time without the risk of missing any matches, ESPNCricinfo reported.

Rajat Patidar sustained the injury while fielding during RCB’s home fixture against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on May 3. He was advised to wear a splint for finger protection and to avoid training for a minimum of 10 days before the injury could be properly evaluated.

Given Patidar’s availability for the IPL playoffs and his potential selection for the forthcoming India A tour to England, RCB are exercising caution in his recuperation. It is anticipated that the tour’s roster will be revealed in the next few days.

Patidar and the other members of the RCB team returned to Bengaluru from Lucknow on Saturday. After the ceasefire between India and Pakistan was announced on Saturday night, he was hopeful that he would be able to play the rest of the IPL season if it resumed the following week.

Jitesh Sharma in line to captain RCB if Rajat Patidar fails to recover

Before the BCCI stopped the IPL for a week on May 8, Jitesh Sharma was scheduled to captain RCB against the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on Friday due to Patidar’s injury.

“I was very grateful for the opportunity given to me. They were giving me an opportunity to captain RCB, and it’s a very big thing for me and my family. I was thinking of what the right combination would be because both Devdutt [Padikkal] and Rajat were not available, and it was a big responsibility to replace them.

And as per the position we were in on the points table, we would have won this game. All of this was going on in my head, and all the meetings with coaches and players in those two-three days, batting order, and discussions with bowlers. I had good fun.” Jitesh had said on RCB Bold Diaries.

Patidar’s injury was among several setbacks RCB faced before IPL 2025 was put on hold. Opener Phil Salt was sidelined due to illness and replaced in the playing XI by Jacob Bethell; Devdutt Padikkal was ruled out for the season with a hamstring injury and replaced in the squad by Mayank Agarwal; and Josh Hazlewood had sustained a shoulder injury.

As of Sunday, all of RCB’s overseas players and coaching staff had departed India but were instructed to stay on standby in case the tournament resumes.

RCB were second on the points table when the IPL was halted, having recorded eight wins and three losses in 11 matches. RCB’s three remaining matches are one away game against LSG in Lucknow and two home games against SRH and KKR.

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