RCB captain Rajat Patidar ruled out for four months due to injury - Reports

Rajat Patidar sustained an injury while playing for India A in the first unofficial test against South Africa A.

Indian Cricket Team batter and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) captain Rajat Patidar has been ruled out for four months due to an injury, according to reports. The right-handed batsman sustained the injury while playing for India A in the unofficial first test against South Africa A last month. While the reports did not specify the exact nature of the injury, it is learned that Patidar will need four months to recover.

The second unofficial test between India A and South Africa A is underway at the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru. Patidar was part of the first game, where he scored 19 and 28 across both innings. However, due to an injury, he was ruled out of the second unofficial test.

Notably, this can come as a big blow for RCB as Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 is around the corner. While Patidar is expected to recover ahead of the tournament, he might have to pull out if his rehabilitation takes longer time. In such a scenario, RCB will be short of their captain as well as a top batter in IPL 2026.

Rajat Patidar led RCB to the title in IPL 2025

Patidar, who was appointed as RCB captain ahead of IPL 2025, led the team to their first title in the tournament. RCB outplayed Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the final to clinch their maiden title. The right-handed batsman scored 312 runs in 15 games at a strike rate of 143.77, including two half-centuries.

After IPL 2025, Patidar led Central Zone to the title in Duleep Trophy 2025-26. Central Zone outplayed South Zone by six wickets in the final of the tournament, where Patidar slammed a crucial century.

With 382 runs in three games, he finished as the highest run-scorer of the tournament, playing a key role in Central Zone’s victory. Patidar is also the captain of his domestic team Madhya Pradesh and his injury will be a big blow for the team in the Ranji Trophy 2025-26.

For India, the 32-year-old has played three tests so far, and was aiming for a comeback with a good show for India A. He last played a test match against England in February 2024, however, he was dropped from the side following a dismal batting show in the series.

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