In the 65th match of the IPL 2025, Royal Challengers Bengaluru stunned everyone when Jitesh Sharma came to toss for his team against SunRisers Hyderabad in Lucknow on Friday evening (May 23). Here, we will know the reason for RCB regular captain Rajat Patidar's absence during the toss of the match.

While we have already got four teams for the IPL 2025 Playoffs, the battle for the first two places is still on strongly among the four teams. Royal Challengers Bengaluru are one of the favourite teams to finish in the top two places in the IPL 2025 points table. 

See Also: Good news for RCB fans: Major update on star player’s availability ahead of upcoming clash

IPL 2025, RCB vs SRH: Captain Rajat Patidar missed the toss

The Lucknow match against SRH is the 13th game for the second-placed RCB. However, RCB regular captain Rajat Patidar didn't join in the toss, while Jitesh Sharma was present at the toss, as he is leading the team in the match. 

Rajat Patidar is suffering from a hand injury, which he got during their last match against Chennai Super Kings on May 3. While there is no official statement, RCB team management may have taken a tactical decision to keep their regular skipper fresh for the Playoffs, along with avoiding any further injury scare. 

However, the RCB regular captain isn't fully out of the match against SRH. He has been added to the list of the Impact subs, so we can still see him in the game, if his service requires. He has an important role for his team to produce powerful performances in the IPL 2025, as the right-handed batter has scored 239 runs in 10 innings this season with an average of 23.90 and a strike rate of 140.58, including two half-centuries. 

Is it Jitesh Sharma's first IPL captaincy?

Meanwhile, Jitesh Sharma became the ninth RCB captain. However, it isn't his first IPL match as a captain. In the IPL 2024, he led Punjab Kings in one match, and interestingly, it was also against SunRisers Hyderabad in Hyderabad.