Rajat Patidar opens up on leading Virat Kohli in IPL 2025, says there won’t be any pressure

Royal Challengers Bengaluru newly appointed captain Rajat Patidar said there won’t be any pressure while leading talismanic batter Virat Kohli in the upcoming IPL 2025. Patidar said leading Kohli in the IPL will give him an opportunity to learn from the veteran batter and he is going to use it as a strength.

Kohli has all the leadership experience under his belt and Patidar will look to make the most of it. Rajat has been performing consistently for RCB in the last few seasons and he also led Madhya Pradesh to the final of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy against Mumbai in 2024.

Rajat Patidar said while talking to the media on Thursday, “I don’t think there will be much pressure at my end. It will be an opportunity for me to play with him and his thoughts will help me. At the moment, I didn’t speak to him much but the way he reads the game, I would like to add that strength to my leadership qualities.”

Patidar said leading RCB for the first time will help him grow as a leader and he would look to give his best.

“There will be pressure but at the same time I am very clear about how to go and I think it is a great opportunity for me to lead this team. It will help me grow as a leader,” he added.

“If I talk about my captaincy, I am not very expressive but I am much aware of the situation of the match. I am surrounded by some of the best and we have a group of leaders as well. Their ideas will help in my growth as a skipper and as a person as well.”

Meanwhile, RCB have picked bowlers like Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Yash Dayal, and Rasikh Dar in their squad and Patidar said they have a good bowling attack.

He added, “I think we have a good bowling unit, if I compare it with last year, we have a much better unit. This is a message to the fans, we will do whatever it takes to get the best results”

RCB will begin their IPL 2025 campaign against defending champions KKR on March 22 at Eden Gardens, Kolkata.