After guiding Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) to their maiden IPL title and leading Central Zone to Duleep Trophy success, star batter Rajat Patidar has been handed a new and bigger role. The 32-year-old has been appointed captain of Madhya Pradesh across all formats for the upcoming 2025-26 domestic season, which begins with the Ranji Trophy on October 15.
Patidar replaces Shubham Sharma as captain, with the decision taken by MP Director of Cricket Chandrakant Pandit, who believes the right-hander leadership and current form make him the ideal choice.
Patidar leadership journey began in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy last season, where he impressed with his tactical calls. Soon after, he scripted history by leading RCB to their first-ever IPL trophy after 18 long years. His impressive run continued in red-ball cricket, where he captained Central Zone to their first Duleep Trophy triumph since 2014-15.
Last week, he even led the Rest of India in the Irani Cup, featuring big names like Ishan Kishan and Ruturaj Gaikwad. Though his team lost to Vidarbha, Patidar made an impact with a fighting knock of 66 runs in the final.
Patidar has been in outstanding touch with the bat. In the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy, he scored 529 runs in 11 innings at an average of 48.09, including one century and two fifties, finishing as the second-highest run-scorer for MP after Shubham Sharma.
His form has carried into this season as well, with two centuries and three half-centuries already under his belt. Notably, his century in the Duleep Trophy final against South Zone played a decisive role in Central Zone’s victory.
Madhya Pradesh will begin their Ranji Trophy 2025-26 campaign against Punjab in Indore. The tournament will be held in two phases — the first from October 15 to November 19, followed by a break for white-ball cricket, and then resuming from January 22 to February 1. The knockouts are scheduled between February 6 and 28.
For Rajat Patidar, this appointment is another milestone in what has been a memorable year of cricket. From RCB’s long-awaited IPL title to domestic dominance with Central Zone, his rise as a leader has been remarkable. Now, all eyes will be on whether he can replicate that success by guiding Madhya Pradesh to Ranji Trophy glory.
