Just over a month ago, RCB head coach Andy Flower offered high praise for Rajat Patidar, describing him as calm, empathetic, and strong-willed—all qualities that, in RCB’s view, make him the ideal captain for their new era in IPL 2025.
In doing so, RCB made one of the boldest moves of this year’s Indian Premier League by handing the reins to a player with only 16 games of T20 captaincy experience while parting ways with the seasoned Faf du Plessis ahead of the mega auction.
Key Highlights:
Choosing Patidar Over Proven Veterans
RCB had the option to return to Virat Kohli, the franchise’s former captain with 143 IPL matches as skipper. Instead, they chose to invest in 31-year-old Rajat Patidar, a middle-order batter known more for his temperament than tactical record.
The move signals a deeper shift in thinking—away from legacy leadership and toward an adaptable, analytical, and collaborative captaincy model, one that aligns with modern T20 dynamics.
Contrasting Approaches: RCB vs. KKR
While RCB opted for fresh leadership, other franchises took different routes. The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), for instance, chose experience by naming Ajinkya Rahane captain and Venkatesh Iyer as deputy. Both decisions reflect a growing divide in T20 leadership philosophies.
Some franchises prefer to build a squad first and assign leadership later, focusing more on the collective than an individual-centric strategy. As Simon Katich points out, the modern T20 captain’s role is changing—and often reduced to squad balance, match-ups, and motivating the team ethos.
The Changing Nature of T20 Captaincy
In today’s IPL environment, the captain’s influence is increasingly distributed. Strategic time-outs, pre-match analytics, and data-backed role assignments have reshaped how decisions are made on-field. Coaches like Ashish Nehra are seen directing play from the sidelines, almost like football managers.
Yet, while technology and data analytics provide real-time inputs, the in-game instincts of a captain remain valuable. Former coach Mike Hesson warned against stripping captains of their autonomy, reminding that cricket remains a human-centric game.
Past Examples Offer Context
From Hansie Cronje’s earpiece setup in 1999 to Eoin Morgan’s reliance on analyst-driven match-up cards, modern cricket has seen captains embrace off-field tactical inputs. Even in IPL 2024, analysts were seen guiding captains during games, indicating a shared model of leadership.
Still, players like Rishabh Pant, who influence the game through subtle tactics like momentum-breaking chats during over-breaks, highlight that cricket’s leadership can’t be fully digitized.
Patidar and a New Generation of Captains
The 2025 season features a new generation of leaders. Apart from Rajat Patidar, Axar Patel leads Delhi Capitals, despite minimal captaincy experience. Shubman Gill, Ruturaj Gaikwad, and Pat Cummins also represent a diverse spectrum of leadership styles—some rooted in international experience, others in domestic promise.
Each appointment reflects a tailored approach, built on team composition, franchise culture, and available coaching resources.
Franchises Are Rethinking Tradition
Ultimately, Patidar’s promotion is emblematic of a league increasingly unafraid to rethink tradition. His appointment isn’t just about individual potential—it’s a franchise-level decision to empower leadership from within a collaborative, coach-supported framework.
When RCB celebrated his appointment at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, the plaque he received read: “Enjoy it, and we’re all behind you.” It was more than just ceremonial—it symbolized the collective spirit of modern IPL teams, where leadership is shared and data often plays as crucial a role as instinct.
Whether Rajat Patidar’s captaincy turns out to be a masterstroke or a risk, it certainly reflects a broader evolution in T20 leadership. In an IPL era driven by data, collaboration, and fluid roles, the real captain may no longer be the only voice of authority. As teams experiment with this hybrid model of strategy and instinct, IPL 2025 could prove to be a turning point for how cricket teams are led in the future.
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