Rajat Patidar is an Indian international cricketer who plays as a top-order batter for Madhya Pradesh in domestic cricket and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Born on June 1, 1993, in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, he made his international debut for India in an ODI against South Africa on December 21, 2023, followed by his Test debut against England on February 2, 2024. Patidar rose to national prominence after scoring a brilliant 54-ball century for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the 2022 IPL Eliminator match against Lucknow Super Giants.
Rajat Patidar was born in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, on June 1, 1993, into a business family. Initially starting his cricketing journey as an off-spinner, Patidar gradually transitioned into a full-time top-order batsman during his teenage years. He joined a local cricket academy in Indore, honing his stroke play against both pace and spin on dry central Indian pitches. Patidar worked his way through Madhya Pradesh’s under-19 and under-22 state teams before earning his senior state team selection. He made his First-Class debut for Madhya Pradesh on October 30, 2015, against Baroda in the Ranji Trophy, scoring a second-innings half-century to demonstrate his composure under pressure.
Patidar has been a cornerstone of Madhya Pradesh’s batting lineup since his debut in 2015. Over the years, he developed a reputation as a dependable top-order batsman capable of pacing long red-ball innings as well as accelerating in white-ball cricket. His List A debut came on December 11, 2015, in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, followed by his Twenty20 debut on January 8, 2016, in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. By the late 2010s, Patidar established himself as one of the most prolific and consistent run-scorers in the Indian domestic circuit.
During the historic 2021-22 Ranji Trophy season, Rajat Patidar played a monumental role in guiding Madhya Pradesh to its maiden title under head coach Chandrakant Pandit. Patidar finished as the tournament’s second-highest run-scorer, accumulating 658 runs across 6 matches at an average of 82.25. His standout performance came in the Ranji Trophy final against 41-time champions Mumbai at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. Patidar scored a sublime second-innings century (122 runs) and hit the winning runs to seal Madhya Pradesh’s historic championship victory in June 2022.
Rajat Patidar’s Indian Premier League journey began in 2021 when he was purchased by Royal Challengers Bengaluru for his base price of INR 20 lakh. After a modest initial season where he managed 71 runs in 4 matches, he went unsold in the 2022 mega auction. However, he was brought back into the RCB squad mid-season in 2022 as an injury replacement for Luvnith Sisodia at his base price. That replacement call proved to be a major turning point in his professional career.
Rajat Patidar’s highest score in the IPL is 112 not out off 54 balls, scored for Royal Challengers Bengaluru against Lucknow Super Giants in the 2022 IPL Eliminator at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, on May 25, 2022. Patidar became the first uncapped player to score a century in an IPL playoff match, hitting 12 fours and 7 sixes. His innings propelled RCB to a total of 207/4 and earned him the Player of the Match award. In the 2024 IPL season, Patidar reinforced his value by scoring 395 runs at an explosive strike rate exceeding 177, including five half-centuries, proving particularly dominant against spin bowlers in the middle overs.
Following his consistent output in domestic tournaments and the IPL, Patidar received his maiden call-up to the Indian national squad in late 2022. He spent several series on the bench before making his official international debut in a One Day International against South Africa at Paarl on December 21, 2023, opening the batting and scoring 22 runs.
Rajat Patidar made his Test debut for India on February 2, 2024, against England in the second Test of the Anthony de Mello Trophy at Visakhapatnam. Cap number 310 for India, Patidar was brought into the Test squad as a replacement for injured veteran Virat Kohli. He scored 32 runs in his debut Test innings, showcasing solid footwork and crisp shot selection. Though he struggled for big scores across his initial three-Test appearance streak in that series, his inclusion reflected his high standing among national selectors for red-ball cricket.
The table below summarizes Rajat Patidar’s career performance across major domestic, franchise, and international formats as of 2024:
| Format | Matches | Runs | Highest Score | Batting Average | 100s / 50s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First-Class | 57 | 4,300+ | 196 | 43.50 | 12 / 23 |
| List A | 58 | 1,980 | 158* | 36.00 | 3 / 12 |
| IPL | 27 | 799 | 112* | 34.74 | 1 / 7 |
| Test Matches | 3 | 63 | 32 | 10.50 | 0 / 0 |
| ODI Matches | 1 | 22 | 22 | 22.00 | 0 / 0 |
Rajat Patidar is known for his clean striking, back-foot dominance, and exceptional ability to attack spin bowling. Standing comfortably in his crease, Patidar uses quick footwork to disrupt the lengths of slow bowlers, frequently employing the lofted drive down the ground and powerful sweep shots. His composure in high-pressure matches—such as Ranji Trophy finals and IPL knockouts—highlights a mature temperament that complements his aggressive run-scoring capability.
Rajat Patidar plays for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the Indian Premier League. He first joined RCB in 2021, returned as an injury replacement in 2022, and established himself as a key middle-order batter.
Rajat Patidar represents Madhya Pradesh in domestic cricket tournaments, including the Ranji Trophy, Vijay Hazare Trophy, and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. He made his First-Class debut for Madhya Pradesh in October 2015.
Rajat Patidar made his One Day International (ODI) debut for India on December 21, 2023, against South Africa at Boland Park in Paarl, opening the batting and scoring 22 runs.
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