Rajat Patidar will lead Madhya Pradesh in every format this season, starting with the Ranji Trophy opener against Punjab in Indore on 15 October. The 32-year-old replaces Shubham Sharma, a switch signed off last week by MP director of cricket Chandrakant Pandit.
“We’ve watched Rajat grow into a calm, reliable leader,” Pandit said. “The dressing-room trusts him, and his record over the past year speaks for itself.”
Patidar’s rise has been quick. He first took the T20 reins during last season’s Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, guiding MP to the final before Mumbai edged them out. A month later he captained Royal Challengers Bengaluru to their maiden IPL title, and this September he lifted the Duleep Trophy with Central Zone – their first since 2014-15.
“I never expected all three roles to come this soon,” Patidar admitted. “But when opportunity knocks you have to take it. My aim is simple: keep the group relaxed and let the runs take care of themselves.”
Numbers back him up. In last winter’s Ranji campaign he scored 529 runs at 48.09, behind only Shubham’s extraordinary 943. Already this season he has two hundreds and three fifties in seven visits to the crease, including a decisive century in the Duleep final that set up Central Zone’s six-wicket win over South.
Former India batter and Central Zone coach Piyush Chawla believes the timing is right. “He’s at that sweet spot: old enough to command respect, young enough to relate to the lads,” Chawla said. “Plus, after the IPL triumph, everyone knows he can handle pressure.”
The Ranji schedule is split once again. Phase one runs 15 October to 19 November, then a white-ball window breaks things up before phase two kicks in on 22 January. Knock-outs start 6 February. It means Patidar will hop from red-ball leadership straight into 50-over and T20 duties, with hardly a pause.
Workload could be a talking point. “I’ve chatted to the physio team,” he noted. “Captaining across formats is demanding, but the support staff are on top of recovery plans. And to be honest, I’d rather stay in rhythm than sit out.”
Shubham, now relieved of the armband but still integral as the top-order rock, responded graciously. “Rajat deserves the chance. I’ll focus on batting and helping where I can,” he said.
For Madhya Pradesh, the challenge is repeating their 2021-22 title run in an increasingly congested calendar. For Patidar, it is turning a purple patch into something lasting. As Pandit put it, “Captains are judged over seasons, not weeks. Rajat knows that – and he’s ready.”
