WATCH: Rajat Patidar spotted batting in RCB nets despite injury worries

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) player and captain Rajat Patidar has brought smiles to the faces of the fans as he was seen practicing batting in the nets on May 15, 2025, even though there were previous worries regarding a finger injury he got while playing against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on May 3 at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. The injury had compelled Patidar to don a splint, and he was about to miss RCB's match against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), with Jitesh Sharma filling in as the stand-in captain. The IPL 2025 season was, however, halted on May 9 for a week when cross-border tensions between India and Pakistan resulted in a suspension, giving Patidar some timely recovery time.

The IPL is now scheduled to resume on May 17, with RCB taking on Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at home in what promises to be an important match. RCB are second in the points table with 16 points from 11 games (eight wins and three losses), and a win in one of their remaining three matches would see them book a playoff berth for the fifth time in six seasons. A new video going viral on social media has assuaged the fears of fans, with the 31-year-old Madhya Pradesh batter smilingly facing a fast bowler in the nets, which means he might have recovered and could possibly lead RCB against KKR.

Patidar's performance this year has been one of two halves; he began well, accumulating 186 runs in his opening five innings at a 37.20 average and 161.73 strike rate, but in the followingx, he struggled to make just 78 runs at a 13 average and 100 strike rate. His return to the nets is welcome news for RCB, who seek to sustain the momentum they've gained following an impressive start to the tournament, including victory against KKR at Eden Gardens on the season's opening weekend.

A Pivotal Fixture for RCB's Playoff Ambitions

RCB will look to finish a double over KKR, captained by Ajinkya Rahane, in their next match on May 17 at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. Win or lose, it would not only confirm their playoff spot but also give them a confidence boost going into the knockout stages, where they have traditionally failed to perform well despite being regular league-stage performers.

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Patidar's possible comeback can prove to be the game-changer for RCB, particularly with his leadership and contributions in the early stages of batting. With other big guns such as Virat Kohli and Glenn Maxwell on the team, RCB stands a good chance of making a concerted bid for the IPL 2025 championship, now rescheduled to be wrapped up on June 3, as they seek to make the most of their home ground against KKR.