Rajat Patidar is an Indian right-handed top-order batter from Indore, Madhya Pradesh. Born on 1 June 1993, he is 33 years old on 15 October 2026. He bowls occasional right-arm off-break, but his main value is his clean, forceful batting in the top and middle order. He represents Madhya Pradesh in domestic cricket and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the IPL. He was RCB captain in the 2025 and 2026 seasons.
Rajat Patidar at a glance
- Full name
- Rajat Manohar Patidar
- Date of birth
- 1 June 1993
- Age on 15 October 2026
- 33
- Birthplace
- Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India
- Role
- Top-order batter
- Batting style
- Right-hand bat
- Bowling style
- Right-arm off-break
- Domestic team
- Madhya Pradesh
- IPL team in 2026
- Royal Challengers Bengaluru
- International team
- India
Profile checked 15 October 2026. Team and record details are dated in the article.
Early cricket and domestic pathway
Patidar did not follow the quickest age-group route into senior cricket. He did not play Madhya Pradesh age-group cricket until he was 18, and an anterior cruciate ligament injury also influenced his early development. He had wanted to be a fast bowler, then tried off-spin to find a place in junior cricket. Work with former India batter and Madhya Pradesh captain Amay Khurasiya helped him focus on batting.
His first-class debut for Madhya Pradesh came against Baroda at Vadodara from 30 October to 2 November 2015. He made a century on debut and followed it with another hundred in his next match. His domestic reputation grew through patient red-ball batting at No. 3 and No. 4, alongside a limited-overs game built around timing and strong strokeplay.
The defining domestic season came in 2021–22. Four days after going without a buyer at the IPL 2022 auction, he began the Ranji campaign with two fifties against Gujarat on a difficult surface. He finished the group phase with 335 runs in four innings at an average of 83.75. In the knockout stage he scored a match-winning century against Mumbai in the final, helping Madhya Pradesh win their first Ranji Trophy title.
Meaningful India milestones
Patidar made his ODI debut for India against South Africa at Paarl on 21 December 2023. He made his Test debut against England at Visakhapatnam on 2 February 2024 after being called into the squad as a replacement. His India career has so far been brief: he last played for India in 2024, and no senior T20I debut is recorded in the official and reputable profiles checked for this article.
Before the Test call-up, he strengthened his case with India A. He scored 111 in a two-day fixture against England Lions and 151 in the first unofficial Test against the same opponents in January 2024. Those innings followed his Ranji final hundred and showed that his selection was built on sustained domestic performance rather than only IPL visibility.
His international opportunity also came after a setback. An Achilles injury required surgery and ruled him out of much of 2023, but he returned to competitive cricket before the India A matches and Test selection. In his first Test series he scored 63 runs in six innings. That return was below his domestic standard, but the debut itself marked the late-career progress of a batter who had taken a less direct route to India.
IPL journey with Royal Challengers Bengaluru
RCB signed Patidar ahead of IPL 2021, when he played four matches. He was released after that season and was not selected at the 2022 auction. RCB then brought him back as an injury replacement during IPL 2022. He nearly declined because the tournament overlapped with his planned wedding, but he chose to join the team after discussing the decision with family and friends.
That call changed his IPL career. Patidar scored 333 runs in eight innings in IPL 2022 and struck an unbeaten 112 from 54 balls against Lucknow Super Giants in the Eliminator. He became the first uncapped Indian to score a century in an IPL playoff match. He also made a half-century in Qualifier 2 against Rajasthan Royals. A heel injury kept him out of IPL 2023.
He returned strongly in IPL 2024, making 395 runs from 15 matches with five half-centuries at a strike rate of 177.13. RCB retained him for ₹11 crore ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction, alongside Virat Kohli and Yash Dayal. On 13 February 2025, the franchise appointed him captain. Under his leadership, RCB won their maiden IPL title in 2025.
RCB retained Patidar again for IPL 2026. That official franchise announcement confirmed his place in the defending champions’ squad, while the release did not publish a separate 2026 player fee. He remained captain during the 2026 season. His aggressive batting and calm decision-making made him central to RCB’s approach, even though he was not an established India regular by the reference date.
Career timeline
- 1 June 1993: Born in Indore, Madhya Pradesh.
- 30 October–2 November 2015: Made his first-class debut for Madhya Pradesh against Baroda and scored a century.
- 11 December 2015: Made his List A debut against Saurashtra.
- 8 January 2018: Made his senior T20 debut for Madhya Pradesh against Rajasthan.
- 2021: Joined RCB and played four IPL matches.
- 2021–22 Ranji season: Scored 335 runs in four group-stage innings and helped Madhya Pradesh win the title.
- 25 May 2022: Hit 112 not out from 54 balls for RCB against Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL Eliminator.
- 21 December 2023: Made his ODI debut for India against South Africa at Paarl.
- 2 February 2024: Made his Test debut against England at Visakhapatnam.
- 13 February 2025: Named RCB captain ahead of IPL 2025.
- 2025: Led RCB to their first IPL title.
- 15 November 2025: RCB confirmed his retention for IPL 2026.
- 15 October 2026: Remained an RCB captain and Madhya Pradesh batter; age 33.
Playing style
Patidar is primarily a top-order batter whose strength is balance through the shot. He can play controlled strokes in first-class cricket, but his IPL batting is especially effective when he attacks spin and pace through the middle overs. His 112 not out in the 2022 Eliminator showed how quickly he can turn a playoff innings, while the Ranji final hundred showed that his method also works under sustained red-ball pressure.
He is not a frontline bowler. His right-arm off-break is a secondary skill and does not define his selection. The more important combination is his right-handed batting, experience at No. 3 and No. 4, and ability to stay composed in high-pressure matches. As captain, RCB’s public accounts have also highlighted his simple communication and willingness to make clear tactical decisions rather than overcomplicate plans.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Rajat Patidar on 15 October 2026?
Rajat Patidar is 33 years old on 15 October 2026. He was born on 1 June 1993, so his 33rd birthday had already passed.
What is Rajat Patidar’s role?
He is a right-handed top-order batter. He also bowls right-arm off-break on occasion, but batting is his primary role.
Which IPL team does Rajat Patidar play for?
He plays for Royal Challengers Bengaluru. RCB retained him for IPL 2026 and he remained the team’s captain during that season.
When did he make his India debut?
His ODI debut was against South Africa at Paarl on 21 December 2023. His Test debut followed against England at Visakhapatnam on 2 February 2024.
What is Rajat Patidar’s biggest IPL milestone?
His unbeaten 112 from 54 balls against Lucknow Super Giants in the 2022 Eliminator was the first century by an uncapped Indian in an IPL playoff match.
What did he achieve with Madhya Pradesh?
He scored a century in the 2022 Ranji Trophy final against Mumbai, helping Madhya Pradesh win their first Ranji title.
