Rajat Patidar [Source: AFP]Just when Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) are rolling like a well-oiled machine, fans were left biting their nails after captain Rajat Patidar was ruled out of the IPL 2026 clash against Punjab Kings in Dharamsala. With a playoff berth within touching distance, the last thing RCB wanted was uncertainty over their skipper. Rajat Patidar has been the glue holding Bengaluru’s batting together this season, and his absence immediately set alarm bells ringing. But RCB fans can breathe a little easier. Stand-in captain Jitesh Sharma provided a reassuring update at the toss and suggested Patidar’s absence is only temporary. Jitesh Sharma shares positive update on Rajat Patidar At the toss, Jitesh Sharma confirmed that Patidar is recovering well and is expected to be available for RCB’s final league game against Sunrisers Hyderabad. “Rajat is doing fantastic now and hopefully we’ll see him in Hyderabad.” That statement from the stand-in skipper would be music to the ears of RCB supporters. While Patidar did not travel with the squad to Dharamsala and missed both training sessions, the latest Rajat Patidar injury update indicates there are no major concerns. All signs point to him returning for RCB’s next IPL match. That means the defending champions are likely to have their captain back just in time for the playoff push. Also Read- Jitesh Sharma's Captaincy RecordHow Rajat Patidar got injured? Patidar picked up the injury during RCB’s previous clash against Kolkata Knight Riders. He was struck on the back of the helmet by a sharp bouncer from Kartik Tyagi. Although he continued batting, he was dismissed soon after for just 11 runs. RCB’s medical staff decided not to take any risks and gave their captain time to recover. With the IPL playoffs around the corner, resting Patidar for one game looks like a sensible move rather than a gamble. Patidar has been RCB’s batting engine Patidar has enjoyed a brilliant IPL 2026 season. In 10 innings, he has notched 326 runs at a blistering strike rate of 195, including three half-centuries. He has led from the front and often turned games with his explosive batting. Be it against pace or spin, Rajat Patidar has looked like a man batting with a point to prove. For RCB, he has been worth his weight in gold. RCB one win away from playoffs RCB are sitting pretty at the top of the points table with 16 points from 12 matches and a net run rate of +1.053. One more win from their final two league matches will seal their place in the playoffs. After Punjab Kings, they face Sunrisers Hyderabad in Hyderabad on May 22. Jitesh Sharma under the scanner While Jitesh stepped up as captain, his form with the bat remains a concern. The wicketkeeper-batter is going through a forgettable season, having scored just 90 runs from 10 innings. For a player known for finishing games with a flourish, those numbers are well below par. Still, captaincy can sometimes light a fire under a player. RCB will hope Jitesh can turn over a new leaf before the business end of the tournament. Also Read- "Whose Idea Was Jitesh Sharma Over Virat Kohli?"RCB Fans Enraged On Captaincy Change
