Rajat Patidar Named Madhya Pradesh Captain Across Formats After IPL and Duleep Trophy Success

Rajat Patidar has been appointed captain of Madhya Pradesh across all formats ahead of the 2025-26 domestic season, which begins with the Ranji Trophy on October 15. The move comes in recognition of Patidar’s recent successes in domestic and franchise cricket, including title wins in both the IPL and the Duleep Trophy.

Patidar, 32, replaces Shubham Sharma at the helm following a decision made by MP director of cricket Chandrakant Pandit. Sources within the Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association (MPCA) suggest the board was keen on expanding Patidar’s leadership role after his strong performances and composure under pressure in recent tournaments.

Leadership Growth

Patidar’s leadership credentials were first tested last season during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, after he had discussed potential captaincy opportunities with Pandit—citing similar aspirations with his IPL side, Royal Challengers Bengaluru. He led MP to the final of that tournament, where they were narrowly beaten by Mumbai.

Since then, Patidar has gone from strength to strength. He captained RCB to their maiden IPL title earlier this year and followed it up by guiding Central Zone to their first Duleep Trophy win since 2014-15. In the Duleep Trophy final, Patidar played a pivotal role with the bat, scoring a century to help Central Zone take a dominant first-innings lead against South Zone, ultimately sealing a six-wicket victory.

Leading the Best

Just last week, Patidar led a star-studded Rest of India (RoI) squad in the Irani Cup in Nagpur. The team featured several top domestic names, including Ishan Kishan, Ruturaj Gaikwad, and Abhimanyu Easwaran—all state captains in their own right. Although RoI fell to Vidarbha by 93 runs, Patidar’s leadership was widely praised.

Consistent Performer

Patidar enjoyed a strong 2024-25 Ranji Trophy season, scoring 529 runs in 11 innings at an average of 48.09, with one century and two fifties. He was Madhya Pradesh’s second-highest run-scorer that season, behind only Shubham Sharma, who tallied a remarkable 943 runs at an average of 104.77.

This season, Patidar has already made his mark, notching up two centuries and three half-centuries in just seven innings. His form and leadership have positioned him as a central figure in Madhya Pradesh’s domestic aspirations.

Season Ahead

Madhya Pradesh will kick off their Ranji Trophy campaign with a home fixture against Punjab in Indore. The tournament will be played in two phases: the first leg runs from October 15 to November 19, followed by a break for white-ball competitions. The second leg resumes from January 22 to February 1, with the knockout rounds scheduled from February 6 to 28.

With Patidar at the helm, MP will be looking to build on their recent domestic progress and push for national honours.