RCB Issues Official Update On Rajat Patidar (Source: AFP)
The Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) franchise is set to receive a massive boost for their upcoming final league match of the IPL 2026 season. Regular captain Rajat Patidar will be making his return to the playing XI as the team takes on SRH before heading into the playoffs.
It is worth noting that Patidar was forced to miss RCB’s previous match against the Punjab Kings last weekend. Jitesh Sharma was appointed as team captain instead, with RCB securing a comprehensive 23-run win in Dharamsala.
Rajat Patidar returns to RCB playing XI before IPL 2026 playoffs
RCB director of cricket Mo Bobat has confirmed that captain Rajat Patidar will be making his return to the playing XI for the match against the SRH on Friday, May 22. With Patidar being injured during the previous match against PBKS, Bobat confirmed that the team management rested him from the game in a bid to avoid any risk with his fitness.
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Speaking a day before RCB’s away IPL 2026 fixture against the SRH, Mo Bobat said “Rajat is good to go. We were cautious and didn’t take any risks with him. We thought we’d give him a little bit longer to recover and rest, but he’s here, he’s practicing and he’s good to go.”
Jitesh Sharma leads RCB to big win in Patidar’s absence
Regardless of Rajat Patidar’s absence from the playing XI, the defending champions trounced Punjab Kings in match 61 of the IPL 2026 season in Dharamsala. Under the leadership of Jitesh Sharma, RCB batted first and mounted 222-4 in 20 overs.
Virat Kohli (58 off 37) and Venkatesh Iyer (73* off 40) struck imperial half-centuries in the high-scoring innings.
In response, uncapped bowler Rasikh Salam picked up three wickets to restrict Punjab Kings to 199-8, as RCB walked away with a 23-run win. The outcome strengthened RCB’s claim of securing a top two finish before the IPL 2026 playoffs.
Rajat Patidar in IPL 2026 so far
Rajat Patidar has registered 337 runs in just 11 innings so far this IPL 2026 season. Averaging 33.70, the blistering middle-order batter is also striking at 192.57.
The cricketer has already charted three half-centuries in the process, which included a match-winning 20-ball 53 against the Mumbai Indians last month at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium.
RCB to face SRH before playoffs
RCB became one of the first sides this season to get qualified for the playoffs. So far, the defending champions have accrued 18 points from just 13 games courtesy of nine wins and four defeats.
Their current NRR of 1.065 also stands the best among all sides this season by a landslide.
RCB will now face SRH in match number 67 of the tournament on Friday, May 22. The match will be hosted by the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Hyderabad and the action will commence from 7:30 PM IST onwards. The match marks RCB’s final league fixture before the playoffs.
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