2 months ago
Rohit Sharma snubbed: Rajat Patidar picks all-time IPL XI, but five-time ******* le-winning ex-MI captain fails to make the cut originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
RCB captain Rajat Patidar named his all-time IPL XI, notably leaving out five-time champion Rohit Sharma.
The team featured Virat Kohli, Chris Gayle, and Suryakumar Yadav, but no place for the former Mumbai Indians skipper.
Patidar recently led RCB to back-to-back IPL ******* les, joining MS Dhoni and Rohit on that exclusive list.
Rajat Patidar has stirred up plenty of debate with his pick of an all-time IPL XI, as he left out Rohit Sharma, who is one of the league's most decorated captains with five championships and a record to match.
#rohit #sharma
RCB captain Rajat Patidar named his all-time IPL XI, notably leaving out five-time champion Rohit Sharma.
The team featured Virat Kohli, Chris Gayle, and Suryakumar Yadav, but no place for the former Mumbai Indians skipper.
Patidar recently led RCB to back-to-back IPL ******* les, joining MS Dhoni and Rohit on that exclusive list.
Rajat Patidar has stirred up plenty of debate with his pick of an all-time IPL XI, as he left out Rohit Sharma, who is one of the league's most decorated captains with five championships and a record to match.
#rohit #sharma
2 months ago
India's domestic cricket season kicks off later this month as Duleep Trophy returns for its 63rd edition.
The tournament follows a zonal structure, with six teams representing different regions competing across three rounds of matches scheduled between August 23 and September 10.
Five captains for the tournament have been unveiled. Tilak Varma takes charge of South Zone, Ruturaj Gaikwad has been handed the captaincy of West Zone, East Zone will be led by Ishan Kishan, India pacer Arshdeep Singh will be at the helm for North Zone while Rajat Patidar will lead Central Zone.
The captain for North East zone hasn't been announced yet.
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#east #north #duleep #five
The tournament follows a zonal structure, with six teams representing different regions competing across three rounds of matches scheduled between August 23 and September 10.
Five captains for the tournament have been unveiled. Tilak Varma takes charge of South Zone, Ruturaj Gaikwad has been handed the captaincy of West Zone, East Zone will be led by Ishan Kishan, India pacer Arshdeep Singh will be at the helm for North Zone while Rajat Patidar will lead Central Zone.
The captain for North East zone hasn't been announced yet.
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#east #north #duleep #five
3 months ago
RCB' **** le winning captain Rajat Patidar has been appointed captain of the Central Zone squad for the 2026 Duleep Trophy, with Rinku Singh named his deputy for the prestigious domestic tournament, scheduled to be held at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru from August 23 to September 10.
The leadership duo brings together two of Central Zone's most experienced batters. Patidar, who captained Royal Challengers Bengaluru to back-to-back IPL **** les, will now look to guide Central Zone in the season-opening first-class competition, while Rinku will serve as vice-captain.
Among the notable inclusions is off-spinning all-rounder Saransh Jain, who is also part of India's Test squad for the upcoming series against Sri Lanka. However, Jain is expected to miss at least the opening phase of the Duleep Trophy as he remains with the national team. With Washington Sundar ruled out of the first Test, Jain is among the leading contenders to make his Test debut in the series opener at Galle, beginning on August 15. The second Test is scheduled to start in Colombo on August 23, the same day the Duleep Trophy gets underway.
Central Zone have **** embled a balanced squad featuring several established domestic performers and exciting young talents. Apart from Patidar and Rinku, the batting unit includes Aryan Juyal, Aman Mokhade, Kunal Chandela, Yash Rathod and Ayush Pandey, while the all-round department is strengthened by Harsh Dubey, Arshad Khan and Saransh Jain.
The bowling attack features Zeeshan Ansari, Aryan Pandey, Yash Thakur and Nachiket Bhute, while Aryan Juyal and Kunal Singh Rathod have been named as the wicketkeeping options.
The Duleep Trophy will once again mark the beginning of India's domestic red-ball season, with all matches set to be played at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru between August 23 and September 10. The tournament continues in its zonal format and is expected to feature several Indian internationals and emerging talents from across the country.
Central Zone squad: Rajat Patidar (captain), Rinku Singh (vice-captain), Aryan Juyal (wicketkeeper), Saransh Jain, Aman Mokhade, Kunal Chandela, Zeeshan Ansari, Aryan Pandey, Arshad Khan, Ayush Pandey, Yash Rathod, Harsh Dubey, Kunal Singh Rathod (wk), Yash Thakur and Nachiket Bhute.
Stand-by players: Amandeep Khare, Mayank Mishra, Saurabh Rawat, Bhargav Merai, Kunal Yadav and **** ar Kartikeya.
#patidar #zone #duleep #rinku
The leadership duo brings together two of Central Zone's most experienced batters. Patidar, who captained Royal Challengers Bengaluru to back-to-back IPL **** les, will now look to guide Central Zone in the season-opening first-class competition, while Rinku will serve as vice-captain.
Among the notable inclusions is off-spinning all-rounder Saransh Jain, who is also part of India's Test squad for the upcoming series against Sri Lanka. However, Jain is expected to miss at least the opening phase of the Duleep Trophy as he remains with the national team. With Washington Sundar ruled out of the first Test, Jain is among the leading contenders to make his Test debut in the series opener at Galle, beginning on August 15. The second Test is scheduled to start in Colombo on August 23, the same day the Duleep Trophy gets underway.
Central Zone have **** embled a balanced squad featuring several established domestic performers and exciting young talents. Apart from Patidar and Rinku, the batting unit includes Aryan Juyal, Aman Mokhade, Kunal Chandela, Yash Rathod and Ayush Pandey, while the all-round department is strengthened by Harsh Dubey, Arshad Khan and Saransh Jain.
The bowling attack features Zeeshan Ansari, Aryan Pandey, Yash Thakur and Nachiket Bhute, while Aryan Juyal and Kunal Singh Rathod have been named as the wicketkeeping options.
The Duleep Trophy will once again mark the beginning of India's domestic red-ball season, with all matches set to be played at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru between August 23 and September 10. The tournament continues in its zonal format and is expected to feature several Indian internationals and emerging talents from across the country.
Central Zone squad: Rajat Patidar (captain), Rinku Singh (vice-captain), Aryan Juyal (wicketkeeper), Saransh Jain, Aman Mokhade, Kunal Chandela, Zeeshan Ansari, Aryan Pandey, Arshad Khan, Ayush Pandey, Yash Rathod, Harsh Dubey, Kunal Singh Rathod (wk), Yash Thakur and Nachiket Bhute.
Stand-by players: Amandeep Khare, Mayank Mishra, Saurabh Rawat, Bhargav Merai, Kunal Yadav and **** ar Kartikeya.
#patidar #zone #duleep #rinku
3 months ago
England youngster Jacob Bethell has opened up about the unforgettable experience of opening the batting alongside Virat Kohli at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium during his stint with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), describing the atmosphere as unlike anything he had experienced before.
Bethell, who joined RCB after being signed in the 2025 IPL mega auction, shared the dressing room with Kohli during the franchise's back-to-back ******* le-winning campaigns in 2025 and 2026. Although the young all-rounder had a mixed season with the bat, he said the opportunity to walk out alongside one of the game's modern greats remains a career highlight.
Speaking on the Super Over podcast on YouTube, Bethell admitted he was overwhelmed by nerves before his first home appearance in Bengaluru.
"That was crazy. I remember being really nervous before. It was only my first game in front of home fans. I was nervous to say the least. But as soon as I got onto the ground, I just felt a sense of excitement. I ran drinks for quite a lot of the competition. Looking at the atmosphere and wanting to get a piece of it,'' Jacob Bethell said.
"We were walking out to bat. I can only hear myself think... the place is bouncing, there is no gap in it. You feel like they are on top of you. Luckily enough, we managed to put on a few runs; I scored a few, he scored a few. I remember I hit my second ball for four and I have never heard a sound that loud," he added.
Bethell also shed light on Kohli's personality away from the spotlight, saying the former RCB captain is far more relaxed than his fiery on-field persona suggests.
"Away from cricket and off the field, he's actually a very chilled individual. Great to talk to, great to spend time around. But it's just that ability to then flip into that competitive nature in and around cricket or training, " Bethell revealed
Bethell's IPL 2026 campaign yielded 163 runs in nine matches at a strike rate of 140.52, but the England all-rounder has previously credited Kohli, Rajat Patidar and Dinesh Karthik in a video posted by RCB on their official handle for helping him improve his game, particularly against spin, during his time with the Bengaluru franchise.
#england
Bethell, who joined RCB after being signed in the 2025 IPL mega auction, shared the dressing room with Kohli during the franchise's back-to-back ******* le-winning campaigns in 2025 and 2026. Although the young all-rounder had a mixed season with the bat, he said the opportunity to walk out alongside one of the game's modern greats remains a career highlight.
Speaking on the Super Over podcast on YouTube, Bethell admitted he was overwhelmed by nerves before his first home appearance in Bengaluru.
"That was crazy. I remember being really nervous before. It was only my first game in front of home fans. I was nervous to say the least. But as soon as I got onto the ground, I just felt a sense of excitement. I ran drinks for quite a lot of the competition. Looking at the atmosphere and wanting to get a piece of it,'' Jacob Bethell said.
"We were walking out to bat. I can only hear myself think... the place is bouncing, there is no gap in it. You feel like they are on top of you. Luckily enough, we managed to put on a few runs; I scored a few, he scored a few. I remember I hit my second ball for four and I have never heard a sound that loud," he added.
Bethell also shed light on Kohli's personality away from the spotlight, saying the former RCB captain is far more relaxed than his fiery on-field persona suggests.
"Away from cricket and off the field, he's actually a very chilled individual. Great to talk to, great to spend time around. But it's just that ability to then flip into that competitive nature in and around cricket or training, " Bethell revealed
Bethell's IPL 2026 campaign yielded 163 runs in nine matches at a strike rate of 140.52, but the England all-rounder has previously credited Kohli, Rajat Patidar and Dinesh Karthik in a video posted by RCB on their official handle for helping him improve his game, particularly against spin, during his time with the Bengaluru franchise.
#england
4 months ago
Rajat Patidar's rise as one of the most influential figures in the IPL continued in 2026 as he guided Royal Challengers Bengaluru to a second successive ******* le. The RCB captain not only led the franchise from the front but also played a vital role with the bat, helping his side successfully defend the crown they won a year earlier.
Patidar enjoyed another outstanding season in the middle order, scoring 501 runs at a remarkable strike rate of 192.69. Time and again, he delivered in pressure situations, whether stabilising the innings after early wickets or launching counterattacks when RCB needed quick runs.
Despite those contributions, former Australia captain Michael Clarke feels Patidar's performances have not received the recognition they deserve.
Speaking on the Beyond23 Cricket Podcast, Clarke named the RCB skipper as one of the most underrated performers of IPL 2026, arguing that the presence of Virat Kohli often means other key contributors receive less attention.
"Patidar had a stellar tournament again and is my player under the radar. Virat Kohli being in the team will always be the most spoken about player. But Patidar has done an exceptional job with the way he leads and gets the best out of all of his players. His own performance, batting in the tough middle order, has been fantastic," Clarke said.
Patidar's leadership credentials have grown significantly over the last two seasons. Under his captaincy, RCB transformed from a team that spent years chasing a maiden ******* le into one that has now won back-to-back championships.
For Clarke, those achievements should place the 31-year-old firmly in discussions surrounding India's T20 side.
"Though he's 31, there has to be a talk about him in the Indian T20 team. I don't know if he will captain India, but he has leadership qualities. His middle-order batting has been phenomenal. Batting at No.4 is the hardest in T20s, and he comes in at the position and just explodes," he added.
The former Australian skipper believes Patidar's value extends beyond his batting. According to Clarke, captaining a side to consecutive IPL ******* les is an achievement that selectors simply cannot overlook.
While competition for places remains intense in Indian cricket, Clarke feels Patidar has done enough to push himself to the front of the queue for white-ball opportunities.
"India has a lot of talent at the moment, and a number of them are fighting to get into the Indian team from this IPL. But if you captain a team that goes on to win back-to-back IPL tournaments, the BCCI and the Indian selectors must be talking about him. His name must be in front of the queue in T20s, and he could even be looked at in ODI cricket," said Clarke.
With 501 runs, a strike rate approaching 200 and another IPL trophy as captain, Patidar's case has certainly become difficult to ignore. Whether it translates into an India recall remains to be seen, but Clarke believes the RCB skipper has ea
Patidar enjoyed another outstanding season in the middle order, scoring 501 runs at a remarkable strike rate of 192.69. Time and again, he delivered in pressure situations, whether stabilising the innings after early wickets or launching counterattacks when RCB needed quick runs.
Despite those contributions, former Australia captain Michael Clarke feels Patidar's performances have not received the recognition they deserve.
Speaking on the Beyond23 Cricket Podcast, Clarke named the RCB skipper as one of the most underrated performers of IPL 2026, arguing that the presence of Virat Kohli often means other key contributors receive less attention.
"Patidar had a stellar tournament again and is my player under the radar. Virat Kohli being in the team will always be the most spoken about player. But Patidar has done an exceptional job with the way he leads and gets the best out of all of his players. His own performance, batting in the tough middle order, has been fantastic," Clarke said.
Patidar's leadership credentials have grown significantly over the last two seasons. Under his captaincy, RCB transformed from a team that spent years chasing a maiden ******* le into one that has now won back-to-back championships.
For Clarke, those achievements should place the 31-year-old firmly in discussions surrounding India's T20 side.
"Though he's 31, there has to be a talk about him in the Indian T20 team. I don't know if he will captain India, but he has leadership qualities. His middle-order batting has been phenomenal. Batting at No.4 is the hardest in T20s, and he comes in at the position and just explodes," he added.
The former Australian skipper believes Patidar's value extends beyond his batting. According to Clarke, captaining a side to consecutive IPL ******* les is an achievement that selectors simply cannot overlook.
While competition for places remains intense in Indian cricket, Clarke feels Patidar has done enough to push himself to the front of the queue for white-ball opportunities.
"India has a lot of talent at the moment, and a number of them are fighting to get into the Indian team from this IPL. But if you captain a team that goes on to win back-to-back IPL tournaments, the BCCI and the Indian selectors must be talking about him. His name must be in front of the queue in T20s, and he could even be looked at in ODI cricket," said Clarke.
With 501 runs, a strike rate approaching 200 and another IPL trophy as captain, Patidar's case has certainly become difficult to ignore. Whether it translates into an India recall remains to be seen, but Clarke believes the RCB skipper has ea
1 yr. ago
#RCB celebrated their #IPL2025 win in style at the team hotel! Captain Rajat Patidar led a vibrant Garba night, with #ViratKohli and the squad dancing to live dhol beats The celebration video went viral!
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