Suspense ends over Rajat Patidar's availability for RCB in IPL 2026 as star batter set to rejoin Madhya Pradesh squad for SMAT

Royal Challengers Bengaluru's title-winning captain Rajat Patidar, whose knee injury sparked speculations on his availability for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026, has recovered and has been cleared to play by the BCCI's Centre of Excellence. He is set to rejoin the Madhya Pradesh squad for the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) in Kolkata.

When will Patidar be available for selection?

Patidar will be available for selection from the third round of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, starting Sunday. Patidar's return will be a significant boost, given his impressive form before the injury, as per ESPNcricinfo.

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Rajat Patidar was out of competitive cricket for four weeks due to a persistent left-knee injury. He felt discomfort in the knee during MP's opening Ranji Trophy match against Punjab on October 15 and missed the last two weeks of the tournament. Patidar had played for India A in the first unofficial Test against South Africa A on October 30, but his injury forced him to take a break.

Patidar's domestic performance

Patidar, who captained IPL in 2025 started the Ranji season with a double century against Punjab, also scoring two centuries and two half-centuries during the course of a title-winning run as Central Zone captain in the season-opening Duleep Trophy.

The SMAT 2025-26 will be his first white-ball games since the conclusion of the cash-rich league, where RCB defeated Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the title decider. 

Patidar's last SMAT

Patidar had a brilliant outing in the last SMAT season where Madhya Pradesh were the finalists. He was the second-highest run-getter, scoring 428 runs in 9 innings at a strike rate of 186.08.