‘Didn’t Want To Come As A Replacement Player’: When Rajat Patidar Almost Denied RCB’s Call

One of the fairytale stories in the recent IPL past is Rajat Patidar. The Madhya Pradesh batter walked in as a replacement player in IPL 2021, where he could only score 71 runs across four games, averaging 17.75. 

But from thereon to getting picked as a replacement player post the IPL 2022 mega auction, and now becoming the face of one of the most beloved IPL franchises, Patidar has come a long way. However, in a startling revelation, the 32-year-old revealed that he almost ‘turned down’ RCB’s opportunity after they failed to pick him at the auction. 

Also Read: Pragmatism Over Popularity: Why Patidar Captaining RCB Is A DEFINING Moment In IPL History

"I had got a message (ahead of the mega auction for IPL 2022) that ‘you should be ready… we will pick you'. I had a little hope that I would get another chance (to play for RCB). But I wasn't picked in the mega auction. I was a little sad," Patidar said on an RCB podcast.

“I (had) started playing in my local matches in Indore (after not getting picked in the auction). Then, I got a call that ‘we are picking you as a replacement for Luvnith Sisodia’, who was injured. To tell you frankly, I didn’t want to come as a replacement because I knew that I wouldn’t get a chance to play there, and I always feel that I don’t want to sit there (in the dugout).

“I wasn’t angry. It was like, if they didn’t pick me (during the auction), then I won’t get it (get to play). I was angry for a while but then I was normal."

Fast forward to 2025, Patidar isn’t just one of RCB’s mainstays but was named as a skipper, following the big footsteps of Faf du Plessis and Virat Kohli. The 32-year-old opened up about that feeling when he got the news that he was named as the franchise’s face. 

“When he was giving it to me, I was a bit worried about how to take it. I was completely blank about what to do. He told me to hold it. I held it. After that, I was looking at him like, what should I do? “Then he said a couple of words like, ‘you deserve it, you earned it’. So I felt a little bit okay. I mean, when he said this to me then I became normal in that situation. I learn from him as much as possible. So I think that was a special moment… the way he introduced me to so many fans,” he said.

“I had a lot of questions like, there are so many (big players) in the team. Kohli is such a big player. how will you do it under him? I know how supportive he is about this (captaincy change),” Patidar recalled speaking on the RCB podcast. “I knew I had his full support. Like I said, this is a learning for me, it’s an opportunity for me. So, I will learn as much as I can from him. Because no one has the experience and ideas that he has in every role — be it batting, as an individual and as a captain."

What sets Patidar apart from the rest of the league is his ability to smash spin. Since IPL 2023, the right-hander has the fourth-best strike rate against spin in the tournament, striking at 177.3. RCB’s skipper has only been dismissed five times against spin over the last 20 IPL innings, showing great game against the tweakers. So, how did he become this good against spin? 

“When I started at the club level, most games were on unprepared wickets. You didn’t get well-prepared surfaces, so I gradually got used to playing spin. Before my Ranji debut, we had a home-and-away format where the home team prepared the wickets. Since we had three quality spinners, we opted for spin-friendly tracks, and I knew I would be playing on a square-turner,” Patidar said.

“While preparing, I used to practice the sweep shot for two to three hours every day. There was only one thought in my mind: if I had to score runs on those pitches, I needed to develop that shot. It is a shot that can put pressure on bowlers on turning tracks.” 

Patidar’s RCB will be in action on May 17 (Saturday) when they take on KKR at home.