Royal Challengers Bengaluru received shocking news just before their crucial Punjab Kings encounter. The table-toppers are flying high with back-to-back victories building serious momentum. But losing their regular captain changes everything for this important Dharamsala clash.
Rajat Patidar Won’t Play Against PBKS in Dharamsala
Rajat Patidar didn’t travel with the RCB squad to Dharamsala surprisingly. Sources confirm he missed both practice sessions at HPCA Stadium completely. Illness or injury forced him out of Sunday’s match against Punjab.
The RCB captain is expected back only for their final league game. That match happens in Hyderabad after the PBKS encounter finishes here. His absence creates a massive hole in RCB’s middle-order batting.
Patidar has been absolutely sensational this season scoring 326 runs from 10 innings. That strike rate of 195 shows how aggressively he’s batted throughout. Three half-centuries prove his consistency under pressure situations repeatedly now.
Losing such form at this crucial stage hurts RCB badly honestly. The timing couldn’t be worse with playoff qualification needing just one win. His leadership and batting will both be desperately missed against Punjab.
Jitesh Sharma Named New Captain for PBKS Match
Wicketkeeper-batter Jitesh Sharma gets the captaincy responsibility in Patidar’s absence. This becomes a huge opportunity for him to prove his leadership credentials unexpectedly. Leading RCB against the Punjab Kings carries enormous pressure for any player.
Jitesh hasn’t captained much at this level before making it challenging. He must handle both wicketkeeping duties and tactical decisions simultaneously now. That’s a difficult combination even for experienced captains to manage properly.
The PBKS vs RCB match is technically a rematch of 2025’s final. Punjab lost that championship match to RCB heartbreakingly back then. Revenge motivates them heavily making this encounter even tougher for Jitesh.
RCB sits at the top of the points table currently with strong momentum. Winning this match seals their playoff qualification officially without depending on others. That clear objective should help Jitesh focus the team effectively.
Phil Salt Also Remains Out with Finger Injury
RCB continues without English opener Phil Salt as well unfortunately here. His finger injury keeps him sidelined still after weeks of recovery. Jacob Bethell will open alongside Virat Kohli again in Salt’s absence.
That opening combination struggled previously when Bethell replaced Salt temporarily. Kohli needs a solid partner giving him strike rotation and support. Bethell must step up significantly if RCB wants to win comfortably.
Two key players missing make victory harder despite RCB’s strong position overall.
