Star India batter Rajat Patidar was recently appointed as the new captain of the Madhya Pradesh team for the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy. After winning their maiden Ranji Trophy title in 2022, Madhya Pradesh will hope that naming Rajat Patidar as their captain could help them replicate their success.
Rajat-led RCB won the IPL 2025
Notably, Patidar captained the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in their maiden title win in the 18th edition of the tournament. The Bengaluru-based franchise defeated Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the final to win their first-ever IPL title at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
Patidar is currently leading the Rest of India team in the Irani Cup, playing against the Ranji 2024-25 winners, Vidarbha. The star batter will take over Ranji Trophy captaincy from Shubham Sharma, who led the side in the last edition.
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Ranji Trophy 2025 schedule
The 2025-26 Ranji Trophy will be held in two phases from October 15 to February 28, 2026. The first phase will be played from October 15 to November 19, while the second round will run from January 22 to February 1. The knockouts will be played from February 6 to 28.
Madhya Pradesh Ranji Trophy squad decoded
The top order looks solid with Yash Dubey, Harsh Gawli, Shubham Sharma, and Himanshu Mantri set to take charge with the bat. In the middle order, experienced hands like Harpreet Singh and Venkatesh Iyer bring both stability and firepower.
Young players like Sagar Solanki and Aryan Pandey add a fresh spark to the squad. Their energy and unpredictability could be key in tight situations and help add more depth to the team.
In the bowling department, there’s a good mix of pace and spin. Kuldeep Sen will lead the pace attack, backed by Adheer Pratap, Arshad Khan, and Aryan Pandey.
Spin duties will be handled by Kumar Kartikey and Saransh Jain, while all-rounder Anubhav Agrawal will provide valuable support. On turning pitches, they’ll be crucial in keeping runs in check and taking key wickets.
Madhya Pradesh squad
Rajat Patidar (captain), Yash Dubey, Harsh Gawli, Shubham Sharma, Himanshu Mantri, Harpreet Singh, Venkatesh Iyer, Sagar Solanki, Kumar Kartikey, Saransh Jain, Adhir Pratap, Aryan Pandey, Arshad Khan, Anubhav Agarwal, and Kuldeep Sen.