Has RCB Finally Found Their X-Factor in Rajat Patidar?

Rajat Patidar = RCB’s X-Factor 🔥 With 41 sixes and nearly 1000 runs, he’s leading the charge in IPL 2025. Can he take down unbeaten DC next?

Rajat Patidar: The Unheralded Hero Powering RCB’s New Era in IPL 2025

The Indian Premier League (IPL) has never been short on quirks. It’s a tournament where overseas stars—restricted to just four spots in a playing XI—have remarkably notched up 53 of the league’s 103 centuries. In contrast, Indian bowlers have dominated with 24 of the 37 five-wicket hauls in IPL history. But perhaps the most startling statistic of all involves one of its most storied franchises: Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB).

Despite being home to Indian cricket’s modern icon, RCB has only one Indian batter who has crossed the 1000-run mark in the team’s 18-year history—Virat Kohli. While Kohli has built an unparalleled IPL legacy with 8168 runs, even newer franchises like Gujarat Titans boast multiple Indian batters with 1000+ runs, including Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan.

Now, that statistic is on the brink of change—and the man rewriting the record books is Rajat Patidar.

A Star in the Shadows

Patidar, often flying under the radar in the presence of Kohli’s towering stature, has quietly become one of the most destructive batters in the league. With 960 IPL runs to his name, he is just a few clean hits away from becoming only the second Indian to breach the 1000-run milestone for RCB.

Yet, what sets Patidar apart is not just the numbers—but how he gets them.

The Intent Machine

Since the start of 2024, Patidar has been one of the most efficient and explosive batters in the IPL. He is one of just four players to have scored over 500 runs in the league at an average above 35 and a strike rate exceeding 160. The only others in that elite club are Travis Head, Heinrich Klaasen, and Shashank Singh—names that have dominated headlines and highlight reels.

While big hitters like Abhishek Sharma, Jake Fraser-McGurk, and Sunil Narine command attention with their flair, Patidar’s method is equally menacing—less flashy, perhaps, but ruthlessly effective.

Most runs for RCB in IPL:

Virat Kohli – 8168

AB de Villiers – 4491

Chris Gayle – 3163

Faf du Plessis – 1636

Glenn Maxwell – 1266

Jacques Kallis – 1132

Devdutt Padikkal – 962

Rajat Patidar – 960

Most fifty+ scores at 200+ strike rate since 2024

Travis Head – 5

Nicholas Pooran – 5

Rajat Patidar – 4

Patidar’s Power Game: More Sixes Than Fours

Since the beginning of last season, Rajat Patidar has showcased a fearless brand of batting, hammering 41 sixes compared to just 37 fours—a rare feat in a format where ground strokes often dominate. This power-packed stat places him in an elite bracket alongside the likes of Heinrich Klaasen and Nicholas Pooran—batters renowned for clearing the ropes more often than piercing the gaps. It’s further testament to Patidar’s evolution into one of the IPL’s most dynamic strikers.

The Catalyst of Change

In a season where RCB is chasing consistency and aiming to shed the tag of perennial underachievers, Patidar has emerged as a key figure in the franchise’s resurgence. With his power-packed strokeplay and calm demeanor, he has filled a long-vacant role: the Indian middle-order enforcer. He’s not just a rising star—he’s the man driving the engine of RCB’s 2025 campaign.

As RCB prepares for a high-stakes clash against the unbeaten Delhi Capitals, all eyes will be on Rajat Patidar. For once, it won’t just be about Kohli’s presence at the crease—but about a new Indian name joining the elite club and potentially steering RCB toward long-awaited glory.

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