Royal Challengers Bengaluru have to deal with a huge loss before the start of IPL 2026 as their new captain Rajat Patidar will not be playing for quite a long time because of a severe injury. Patidar, as per several news reports, has developed a muscle tear, and this injury is expected to keep him off the field for at least four months.
The injury occurred during the training for the South Africa A tour, where Patidar was initially expected to be part of the India A squad. But this unforeseen event has knocked him out not only of the South Africa white-ball series but also created a big uncertainty regarding his availability for IPL 2026.
The injury is regarded as a significant blow to the RCB management team because Patidar was not only appointed to the leadership position but also demonstrated his worth in the previous season when he captained the RCB to their first-ever IPL title in 2025.
This feat gave the RCB management complete confidence in him to be their long-term captain and the Indian batter of the core middle-order for the 2026 season. After that historic title win, Patidar had become a significant part of RCB’s identity and future rebuilding plans. However, this injury has now thrown RCB’s continuity into disarray and completely altered the course of their planning for the upcoming giant season.
Doctors have instructed Patidar to take a break from cricket and go through rehab for up to four months at the minimum. This period implies that he would be a non-starter for IPL 2026 as by the end of his recovery, he would not be having enough match practice or game time during the season change. Various news outlets also indicate that if his recovery or rehab extends longer than anticipated, he might have no other option but to withdraw from IPL 2026 altogether.
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The injury’s severity is such that the management has decided to take no chances and keep him for the long haul. RCB’s future actions will also depend on the pace at which his rehabilitation goes over the next few months.
At this point, Rajat Patidar is no longer a part of the South Africa A tour and his healing process will be closely watched by medical professionals. His not being there has created a huge gap for RCB which will compel the team to reconsider their captaincy plans just before the grand season.
Patidar’s probable unavailability will not only mean that RCB has to look for a backup captaincy option but also for a middle-order replacement if the situation does not improve within the expected time frame.
Rajat Patidar, the royal champion of the last season, probably is going to take charge of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru team in IPL 2026 . He along with the other middle-order batters are the ones who greatly help the team with their batting.
Last season he was not able to give his best, as he could only score 312 runs at a low average of 24 and a good strike rate of 143.77. Also, during those twelve innings, he managed to get two fifties.
Currently, the doctor has given a time frame of four months for him to heal, so he will be ready soonest before the next season; however, if he is not fit Jitesh Sharma may take the place of the skipper as he did in the 2025 season.
Written By:- Manjunath S