Body blow to RCB ahead of IPL 2026, Rajat Patidar ruled out for 4 months after picking serious injury

In a worrisome news for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) as their captain Rajat Patidar may have to sit out of action after picking a muscle tear.

Muscle tear to keep Rajat Patidar away from cricket for 4 months

As per a report by Dainik Jagran, the serious injury is expected to sideline him for the next four months. Although the exact nature of the injury was not specified, he reportedly picked up the issue while playing for India ‘A’ in the first four-day First-Class match against South Africa ‘A’ at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence (CoE). Patidar participated in both innings of that match, scoring 19 and 28 respectively, but the timing of when he sustained the injury remains unclear. He was consequently omitted from the playing XI for the second match of the series.

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This severe injury, if confirmed, carries significant implications for Patidar's career, notably ending his chances of making it into India’s squad for the 2026 T20 World Cup on home soil. While he hasn't been a regular in the national T20 setup recently, his consistent performance as one of the best middle-order batters in the IPL meant he was a strong candidate for a backup or reserve role. Looking ahead to the IPL 2026 season, which is scheduled to begin in March, Patidar is expected to captain the defending champions, RCB. However, the severity of the injury and his recovery timeline will ultimately determine whether he will miss the start of the tournament.

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Injury-marred Rajat Patidar

Patidar's career has unfortunately been marked by injuries. He missed the entire 2023 IPL season due to an Achilles injury, and he even played the IPL 2025 final against Punjab Kings while dealing with a finger injury that required treatment immediately afterward. Yet, his initial entry into the RCB setup as an injury replacement was a pivotal moment, eventually leading to him becoming a club legend and the first captain to steer the franchise to IPL glory. Should Patidar be forced to miss matches in the 2026 season, RCB will likely turn to wicketkeeper-batter and current vice-captain Jitesh Sharma to step up and potentially lead the team, given that Sharma performed well in Patidar's absence last season. Former captain Virat Kohli, meanwhile, has consistently avoided taking on any leadership responsibilities since stepping down from the role several years ago.