RCB: Another shock for IPL looming Bangalore.. Rajat Patidar away from IPL?

Ahead of the start of IPL 2023, Royal Challengers Bangalore are not looking good. The fitness of the players has become a problem for RCB. While Will Jacks is already out of the league… Josh Hazlewood is recovering from an injury. It is known that even Glenn Maxwell has not achieved full fitness. While Hasaranga will be away from the opening matches of IPL, batsman Rajat Patidar will also follow the same path.

Rajat Patidar is currently undergoing rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru after suffering from a heel injury. Experts suggested that he needs three weeks of rest. After an MRI scan, it will be decided that he will not play in the second half of the IPL. As Rajat Patidar got injured before joining the RCB camp, NCA clearance will be mandatory for him.

As Rajat Patidar will not be away from the opening matches of IPL, RCB will have to think about the batting combination. If Patidar was in the team.. Virat Kohli and Duplessis would have entered the ring as openers. But now Kohli will have to bat at number three. New Zealand’s Finn Allen or uncapped wicketkeeper Anuj Rawat will have to open alongside Duplessis.

No franchise bought Rajat Patidar in IPL 2022 mega auction. But he was brought into the team as a replacement for injured wicketkeeper Luvnit Sisodia. Taking advantage of the opportunity, Patidar scored an unbeaten 112 off 54 balls against Lucknow Super Giants. So he became the Indian player who scored the fastest century (in 49 balls) in IPL. Patidar, who played 7 innings last season, scored 333 runs with the help of two half-centuries and one century. His average is 55.50 and strike rate is 152.75. Patidar scored 658 runs in six matches in the 2021-22 Ranji Trophy. There are two centuries and five half-centuries.

The services of pacer Josh Hazlewood are also doubtful for RCB. Although he came to India for the Border Gavaskar Trophy, he did not recover from a leg injury and went home without playing a single Test. With the World Test Championship final against India in June followed by the Ashes series against England, Australia is keeping a close eye on Hazlewood’s recovery.