Patidar to lead MP across formats after IPL, Duleep Trophy success

Rajat Patidar has been handed Madhya Pradesh's all-format captaincy ahead of the 2025-26 domestic season that begins with the Ranji Trophy on October 15.

Patidar got the job to replace Shubham Sharma after getting from MP director of cricket Chandrakant Pandit. It's understood that the Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association was keen on an expanded role for Patidar following his recent success.

The 32-year-old Patidar was first trialled as captain during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy last season after he had spoken to Pandit over a similar possibility arising in the IPL with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). He was given the job and repaid the faith by leading MP to the final, where they lost to Mumbai.

Patidar has since led RCB to their maiden IPL title and recently helmed Central Zone to a title win in the Duleep Trophy, for the first time since 2014-15.

Last week, Patidar led a strong Rest of India (RoI) squad, comprising big names like Ishan Kishan, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Abhimanyu Easwaran - all state captains - at the Irani Cup in Nagpur, where they lost to Vidarbha by 93 runs.

He made 529 runs in 11 innings at an average of 48.09 in the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy season, with one hundred and two half-centuries. This was the second-highest runs tally for MP that season, behind Shubham's 943 runs at 104.77.

Patidar has been in excellent form already this season, hitting two centuries and three half-centuries in seven innings. One of his hundreds was in the final of the Duleep Trophy that helped Central Zone set up a massive first-innings lead, and eventually a six-wicket win, over South Zone.

MP open their Ranji Trophy campaign with a home game against Punjab in Indore. The Ranji season will be played across two phases - the first will be played from October 15 to November 19, before the season takes a break for the white-ball tournaments. The second leg will be played from January 22 to February 1 next year, with the knockouts from February 6 to 28.