Rajat Patidar is one of Indian cricket’s most compelling modern success stories, a man who went from being unsold at an IPL mega auction to becoming the first captain in Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s history to lift the IPL trophy, achieving it back to back in 2025 and 2026.
Born and raised in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, this right-handed top-order batter has built a reputation as one of the most explosive and consistent performers in both domestic and franchise cricket.
His story is defined not by instant recognition but by quiet determination, patient excellence, and a match-winning ability that consistently rises to the occasion under pressure.
Profile
| Full Name | Rajat Manohar Patidar |
| Born | June 1, 1993 |
| Age | 33 years |
| Birthplace | Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Occupation | Professional Cricketer |
| Batting Style | Right-handed |
| Bowling Style | Right-arm off-break |
| Domestic Team | Madhya Pradesh |
| IPL Team | Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) |
| Height | 5 ft 7 in (170 cm) |
| Father | Manohar Patidar (agricultural pumps trader) |
| Spouse | Gunjan Patidar (married July 7, 2022) |
| Net Worth | ₹25–30 crore |
Early Life
Rajat Manohar Patidar was born on June 1, 1993, in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, a city that has increasingly become one of India’s most productive cricket nurseries. He grew up in a well-settled, business-oriented family. His father, Manohar Patidar, runs an agricultural pumps trading business in Indore and has been one of the strongest pillars of support throughout Rajat’s cricketing journey. From his childhood, Rajat was deeply drawn to cricket, beginning his journey with a tennis ball in Indore’s local leagues before transitioning to professional cricket.
Growing up, Rajat idolised the batting of Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers, two batsmen who would later become his RCB teammates at various points in his career. His playing style reflects elements of both: the technical discipline and intensity of Kohli and the free-flowing, inventive attacking instincts of de Villiers. From his earliest days in competitive cricket in Madhya Pradesh, Patidar was identified as a player of extraordinary potential, combining elegant stroke play with a calm temperament that belied his youth.
Education
Rajat Patidar completed his schooling in Indore, balancing academic work with his cricketing commitments from an early age. He pursued higher education at a college in Indore, where he studied commerce, though cricket remained his primary focus throughout. His academic background, while not extensively documented, reflects the diligence and discipline that are characteristic of his approach to both studies and sport.
Career
Rajat Patidar’s domestic cricket career with Madhya Pradesh began in earnest through the late 2010s. He established himself as one of the most reliable and high-scoring batsmen in the Madhya Pradesh setup, with one of his best domestic seasons coming in the 2018–19 Ranji Trophy, where he was the highest run-scorer for his state. His consistency across formats, Ranji Trophy, Vijay Hazare Trophy, and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, gradually built the case for his inclusion in larger cricketing plans.
His IPL journey began when he was bought by Royal Challengers Bangalore in the 2021 IPL auction. However, his truly defining moment came in 2022 in the most dramatic of circumstances. Having gone unsold at the 2022 IPL mega auction, his family had already planned his wedding for May 9, 2022, with a hotel booked and a bride chosen from Ratlam. But when RCB needed a replacement player, Patidar received the call, and his family immediately postponed the wedding to allow him to seize the opportunity. He would justify that decision in the most spectacular fashion possible.
On May 25, 2022, in the IPL Eliminator at Eden Gardens, Rajat Patidar walked out to bat against Lucknow Super Giants and produced one of the greatest innings in IPL history, an unbeaten 112 off 54 balls, becoming the first uncapped player to score a century in the IPL playoffs. His century took a mere 49 balls to reach, and it single-handedly carried RCB into the next round. The innings made him a household name overnight and fundamentally altered his career trajectory.
He also contributed a century in Madhya Pradesh’s historic 2021–22 Ranji Trophy final victory, a double triumph that confirmed him as one of Indian domestic cricket’s finest performers. He was retained by RCB ahead of IPL 2023 but missed the entire season due to an Achilles injury. His comeback in IPL 2024 was exceptional, 395 runs in 15 games at a strike rate of 177.13, including five half-centuries, making him one of RCB’s most reliable batting pillars.
His ODI debut came against South Africa in December 2023, and his Test debut followed against England in February 2024 in Visakhapatnam, both arriving at what some considered a later-than-expected point in his career, reflecting the extraordinary competitiveness of Indian cricket rather than any limitation of Patidar’s quality.
The pinnacle of his career arrived in 2025, when RCB appointed him captain ahead of IPL 2025, a surprise to many who had expected Virat Kohli to lead. Retained for ₹11 crore, Patidar repaid RCB’s faith with extraordinary leadership. Under his captaincy, RCB defeated Punjab Kings in the IPL 2025 final in Ahmedabad, becoming the first RCB captain in the franchise’s 18-year history to win the IPL title. He then became the first captain to win back-to-back IPL titles for RCB when he led them to their second successive championship in June 2026, placing him in the same legendary bracket as MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma. In 2024, he also made history as the first cricketer from Madhya Pradesh to receive a BCCI central contract (C category).
Awards & Records
- First uncapped player to score a century in IPL playoffs (112* off 54 balls, May 2022)
- First RCB captain to win the IPL title (IPL 2025)
- Back-to-back IPL title winner as captain (2025, 2026), joining MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma in this elite club
- First cricketer from Madhya Pradesh to receive a BCCI central contract (C category, 2024)
- Key member of Madhya Pradesh’s Ranji Trophy title-winning side (2021–22)
- Multiple Player of the Match awards in IPL 2025
Social Media
Rajat Patidar maintains an active social media presence, primarily on Instagram (@rajatpatidar), where he shares updates on his cricket career, personal life highlights, and interactions with teammates and fans. He gained widespread attention on social media when he posted a warm birthday message to his wife Gunjan with the caption “With you, everything feels right.” His social media persona reflects his personality, warm, understated, and focused.
Personal Life
Rajat Patidar’s love story with cricket and with his wife Gunjan are intertwined in one of cricket’s most charming anecdotes. His family had planned his wedding for May 9, 2022, before his surprise call-up by RCB as a replacement player prompted them to postpone it. The wedding eventually took place on July 7, 2022, a date that came after Patidar had already electrified the cricketing world with his iconic 112* in the Eliminator. Gunjan is known to be a private individual, and Patidar rarely shares photographs of her publicly, preferring to protect her privacy. Reports from a 2026 interview also suggest the couple may be expecting their first child, further adding to the joyful chapter the couple are experiencing following back-to-back IPL title victories.
Patidar is known for his intense fitness regimen, strict dietary habits, and love of travelling during the off-season. He is deeply religious and family-oriented. His idol Virat Kohli’s influence is visible in both his batting style and his dedication to fitness and professionalism.
Net Worth
Rajat Patidar’s estimated net worth is approximately ₹25–30 crore as of 2026. His primary income comes from his IPL contract with RCB, valued at ₹11 crore for IPL 2025 and 2026, as well as BCCI central contract earnings, match fees, and endorsement deals that have grown substantially following his back-to-back IPL title victories. His endorsement portfolio and commercial value are expected to grow significantly in the coming years as his profile continues to rise.
FAQs
Who is Rajat Patidar?
Rajat Patidar is a professional Indian cricketer from Indore, Madhya Pradesh, who plays as a right-handed top-order batsman for Madhya Pradesh and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the IPL.
How old is Rajat Patidar?
He was born on June 1, 1993, making him 33 years old as of June 2026.
Has RCB ever won the IPL?
Yes. Under Rajat Patidar’s captaincy, RCB won their first-ever IPL title in 2025 and then defended it to win back-to-back titles in 2026.
Who is Rajat Patidar’s wife?
His wife is Gunjan Patidar. They married on July 7, 2022, after postponing their wedding so he could play for RCB in the 2022 IPL.
What is Rajat Patidar’s net worth?
His estimated net worth is approximately ₹25–30 crore, primarily from his IPL contract, BCCI central contract, and endorsements.
Conclusion
Rajat Patidar’s biography is the story of quiet, persistent excellence rewarded at the highest level. From the unsold list at the 2022 IPL mega auction to back-to-back IPL titles as RCB’s captain in 2025 and 2026, his journey is a masterclass in patience, resilience, and the pursuit of excellence. For RCB fans who waited 18 years for their first title, Patidar is not just a captain, he is the man who made the impossible possible, and then did it again. In Indian cricket’s next chapter, his name will be written large.