Why is Rajat Patidar Not Playing Today’s IPL 2023 Match between RCB and MI?

Royal Challengers Bangalore are playing their first Indian Premier League 2023 match against Mumbai Indians without the presence of several first-choice players. While the same hasn’t let cricket-crazy fans in Bengaluru refrain themselves from not thronging the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, thousands of them were witness to another player getting injured within the first hour of the season.

Althoguh only one RCB player has been ruled out and subsequently replaced thus far in the season, the team management now awaits fitness updates on a total of three different players.

With all-rounder Will Jacks missing what would’ve been a maiden season in the biggest T20 league around the world, Royal Challengers were hoping for quick recoveries with respect to batter Rajat Patidar and fast bowler Josh Hazlewood.

However, with pacer Reece Topley dislocating his right shoulder while fielding tonight, it has only added to their woes right at the beginning of the season.

Why is Rajat Patidar Not Playing Today?

Having played each format of the recently concluded Indian domestic season, Patidar suffered a heel injury days before the start of the ongoing 16th season of the IPL. As a result, the 29-year old player is likely to miss a few more matches in the days to come.

Hazlewood, meanwhile, is yet to reach India as he’s recovering from achilles tendonitis which hampered his participation during the tour of India earlier in the year.

Rajat Patidar’s rise at Royal Challengers Bangalore

Madhya Pradesh’s Patidar, who has been travelling with the national team as well lately, had made his IPL debut for Bangalore in IPL 2021. However, a mediocre season resulted in Royal Challengers releasing him before IPL 2022 auction in spite of backing him in tough situations in his first season.

Unsold during IPL 2022 auction, Patidar had received a call-up after Karnataka batter Luvnith Sisodia was ruled out due to an injury. Patidar justified the call by scoring a century in IPL 2022 Eliminator to become only the fifth uncapped player to score a century in the history of the IPL.

With the right-handed batter performing well across tournaments, conditions and formats of late, Bangalore’s fans would be praying for his speedy recovery.