There’s a story that Indian cricket keeps telling, and it never gets old. A boy from a small city, no flashy debut, no hype machine, no guarantee of anything. Just raw talent, relentless patience, and one moment that changes everything.
For Rajat Patidar Biography, that moment came on the night of May 25, 2022, in an IPL Eliminator at Eden Gardens. He walked out to bat with his team under pressure, a replacement player who hadn’t even been wanted at the auction, and proceeded to hit an unbeaten 112 off 54 balls against Lucknow Super Giants. It wasn’t just a century. It was a statement. And it put Rajat Patidar firmly on the cricket map.
Three years later, he was lifting the IPL trophy as RCB’s captain — the first ever in the franchise’s history. From unsold to unstoppable. This is the full Rajat Patidar biography.
Who Is Rajat Patidar?
Rajat Manohar Patidar is an Indian international cricketer from Indore, Madhya Pradesh. He’s a right-handed top-order batter and a part-time off-break bowler. He represents Madhya Pradesh in domestic cricket and captains the Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
He made his ODI debut in December 2023 and his Test debut in February 2024, both relatively late for an Indian cricketer of his caliber. But his real story, and his real impact, has been in the IPL and domestic circuits — where he’s built a reputation as one of the most explosive and dangerous batters in Indian cricket.
Quick Profile at a Glance
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Rajat Manohar Patidar |
| Date of Birth | June 1, 1993 |
| Age | 32 years (as of 2025) |
| Birthplace | Indore, Madhya Pradesh |
| Role | Right-handed batter, off-break bowler |
| IPL Team | Royal Challengers Bengaluru (Captain) |
| Domestic Team | Madhya Pradesh |
| ODI Debut | December 21, 2023 vs South Africa |
| Test Debut | February 2, 2024 vs England |
| Jersey Number | #87 (India), #97 (IPL) |
| Wife | Gunjan Patidar |
| Net Worth | ₹25–30 crore (est. 2025) |
Early Life and Family Background
Growing Up in Indore
Rajat Patidar was born on June 1, 1993, in Indore, Madhya Pradesh — a city famous for its food, its hustle, and increasingly, its cricket talent. He grew up in a well-settled family. His father, Manohar Patidar, runs an agricultural pumps trading business and has been one of the biggest pillars of support in Rajat’s journey.
Indore isn’t exactly a cricketing backwater. It’s produced solid domestic cricketers over the years. But even by Indore’s standards, Rajat’s rise was unconventional and quietly remarkable.
His Family’s Role in His Cricket Journey
Cricket didn’t just happen for Rajat. His grandfather spotted something in the young boy and enrolled him in a cricket club when he was barely eight years old. That one decision changed everything.
His father openly admits that Rajat never cared much for academics. In an interview with ETV Bharat, Manohar Patidar revealed that his son struggled to even pass class 8. Books weren’t Rajat’s thing — cricket was. And instead of forcing a different path, his father eventually gave him full freedom to chase the game once he got selected for the Ranji Trophy. That kind of family backing is rare, and it made all the difference.
Rajat completed his schooling at New Digamber Public School in Indore and later graduated from Guru Vashishtha College, Dewas. But his real education was happening at the cricket ground.
School, Education, and Early Coaching
Three coaches played a major role in shaping Rajat’s early cricketing life: Ram Atre, Amay Khurasiya, and later, the highly respected Chandrakant Pandit. Khurasiya in particular is credited with refining his batting technique during the formative years. Each of these mentors contributed to turning a raw talent into a polished cricketer capable of playing at the highest level.
The Making of a Cricketer — From Bowler to Batter
Why He Switched From Bowling to Batting
Here’s something most people don’t know. Rajat Patidar didn’t start as a batter. He came into cricket as a bowler — specifically a fast bowler who later transitioned to spin. The shift to batting only happened after his Under-15 days, primarily because it gave him more opportunities to keep playing junior cricket.
It’s a detail that says a lot about the kind of player he became. Adaptable. Focused on results, not ego. He made the switch work and never looked back.
The 2014 Knee Injury That Almost Ended Everything
Before he’d even properly started, Rajat’s career nearly fell apart. In 2014, he suffered a serious ACL injury in his right knee. He was sidelined for roughly a year — a brutal stretch for any young cricketer still trying to make their name.
Most young players never come back properly from an ACL injury. Rajat did. He returned stronger, more committed, and with a sharper focus on building a long-term career. That comeback from serious injury in his early 20s tells you everything about the kind of character he has.
Missing Under-14 and Under-16 — The Lost Years
Another layer to Rajat’s story that competitors often gloss over: he didn’t play at the Under-14 or Under-16 levels due to a simple lack of opportunity. He started playing domestic cricket from the age of 18, effectively bypassing those entire age-group stages.
That means he had less exposure, less grooming, and less of the structured pathway that most top domestic players go through. Yet he still made it. If anything, those gaps probably built the hunger in him that you see when he bats. He doesn’t play like someone who was handed anything.
Domestic Cricket Career with Madhya Pradesh
A Stunning First-Class Debut in the Ranji Trophy
Rajat made his first-class debut for Madhya Pradesh on October 30, 2015, in the 2015-16 Ranji Trophy against Baroda at Vadodara. He scored 60 runs on debut and followed it up with a century in the very next innings. Just like that, at 22, he announced himself.
He also holds the record for the fifth-fastest century in Ranji Trophy history — scoring a hundred in just 68 balls against Haryana, finishing with 159 off 102 balls. It’s a record that shows exactly what kind of batter he is when he’s in full flow.
His List-A debut came on December 11, 2015, in the Vijay Hazare Trophy against Saurashtra, where he hit a half-century off just 40 balls at a strike rate of 132.50. His T20 debut followed in January 2018 in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, where he scored 38 off 26 balls on debut.
The 2022 Ranji Trophy Final — MP’s Historic Title After 69 Years
If you want to talk about the moments that define Rajat Patidar’s domestic career, the 2022 Ranji Trophy final tops the list. Madhya Pradesh faced Mumbai — one of the most decorated teams in Ranji history — in the final. Rajat scored a crucial century in that match and Madhya Pradesh clinched the title. Their first in 69 years. Six decades and nine years of waiting, ended with Rajat playing a central role.
This is the kind of impact that separates good domestic cricketers from great ones. He didn’t just contribute. He delivered when it mattered most.
Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and Captaining MP
In the 2024-25 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, Rajat was named captain of Madhya Pradesh. He responded with a stunning tournament — scoring 428 runs in 9 innings at an average of 61.14 and a strike rate of 186.08, with five half-centuries. He led the team to the final with a one-man show knock of 81 not out off just 40 balls. His leadership at the domestic level was building quietly — and would soon translate to the biggest stage.
Rajat Patidar’s IPL Journey With RCB
IPL 2021 — Bought for ₹20 Lakh, Quietly Released
In February 2021, Rajat was picked up by Royal Challengers Bangalore at the IPL auction for his base price of ₹20 lakh. He made his IPL debut on April 9, 2021, against Mumbai Indians. The season didn’t go to plan — he scored just 71 runs in four matches and was released at the end of the season.
For most players, that kind of quiet exit becomes a full stop. For Rajat, it was just a comma.
Unsold in 2022 Auction — Then Everything Changed
The 2022 IPL auction was a low point. Rajat went through the entire bidding process without a single team showing interest. Unsold. At 28. With a strong domestic record.
Then RCB’s Luvnith Sisodia got injured mid-season. The franchise needed a replacement and turned to the very player nobody had wanted. They signed him for ₹20 lakh — the minimum. Rajat joined with nothing to lose and everything to prove.
What followed was one of the most remarkable IPL stories in recent memory.
The 112* That Made India Stop — IPL 2022 Eliminator
May 25, 2022. Eden Gardens. RCB vs Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL Eliminator. This was a knockout match — lose and go home.
Rajat Patidar walked in and played one of the greatest innings in IPL playoff history. He scored 112 not out off 54 balls (49 balls for the century), smashing boundaries in all directions against a quality LSG bowling attack. The innings featured 12 fours and 7 sixes.
The records that fell that night: he became the first uncapped player ever to score a century in the playoff stage of the IPL. It was also the joint-fastest century by any batter in an IPL playoff. The stadium roared. Virat Kohli was in disbelief. The cricket world took notice.
He finished the 2022 season with 333 runs in 8 matches at an average of 55.50 and a strike rate of 152.75 — making him RCB’s third-highest run-scorer for the season. Not bad for a replacement player who nearly didn’t make it to the squad at all.
Missing IPL 2023 — The Achilles Heel Surgery
Just as his stock was at an all-time high, Rajat’s body let him down again. Ahead of the 2023 IPL, he was ruled out of the entire season due to an Achilles heel injury. He’d been carrying the problem for a while but eventually had to go under the knife.
Missing a full IPL season when you’ve just had a breakout campaign is a cruel blow. But Rajat did what he always does when cricket knocks him back — he stayed patient, recovered properly, and came back ready.
Strong Comeback in IPL 2024
The 2024 edition proved he wasn’t a one-season wonder. Rajat scored 395 runs in 13 innings at an average of 30.38 and a blistering strike rate of 177.13, including five half-centuries. The numbers might look modest by his standards, but the quality of his hitting and his consistency throughout the tournament showed that he was firmly RCB’s batting spine.
By the time the 2025 mega auction arrived, there was really only one question — not whether RCB would retain him, but at what price.
RCB Captain and IPL 2025 Champion
RCB retained Rajat for ₹11 crore ahead of IPL 2025 — a jump from ₹50 lakh the previous season. With Faf du Plessis not retained and Virat Kohli choosing to continue only as a player, Rajat Patidar was announced as RCB’s new captain on February 13, 2025.
The appointment surprised some. But those who’d watched his domestic captaincy closely weren’t surprised at all.
What followed was history. On June 3, 2025, Rajat led RCB to their first-ever IPL title, defeating Punjab Kings by six runs in the final at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. He did it in just 13 matches as captain — faster than Rohit Sharma, Dhoni, David Warner, and Gautam Gambhir.
When the trophy was lifted, Virat Kohli summed it up perfectly: “Injury replacement to IPL-winning captain, bloody hell, that’s a turnaround.” Kohli even handed Rajat one of his own bats — a gesture that said more than any press release.
Rajat Patidar became the sixth Indian and ninth captain overall to win the IPL trophy. He’s also one of only two captains in IPL history — alongside Shane Warne — to win the title without ever playing a T20 International for their national team.
International Career — ODI and Test Debut
First ODI Cap Against South Africa
Following his explosive 2022 IPL campaign, Rajat was named in India’s ODI squad for the South Africa series in October 2022. He didn’t get a chance to bat. He was named again as a replacement for Shreyas Iyer for the New Zealand ODI series in February 2023. Same result — no game time.
His actual ODI debut finally came on December 21, 2023, during India’s tour of South Africa. He walked in and scored 22 runs off 16 balls in the series decider, a match India won by 78 runs. KL Rahul handed him his ODI cap — a moment of genuine pride for a cricketer who had waited so long for it.
Test Debut Against England in 2024
In January 2024, Rajat was named as a replacement for Virat Kohli in India’s Test squad for the series against England. He made his Test debut on February 2, 2024, at Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Stadium in Visakhapatnam — Zaheer Khan handing him his Test cap.
He scored 32 and 9 in the two innings of that match. The series as a whole was difficult — he managed just 63 runs across six innings in three Tests, averaging 10.50. It was a tough initiation into the longer format, but Test cricket is unforgiving for batters who are still settling into the style and tempo.
In March 2024, alongside Avesh Khan, he was awarded a Grade C BCCI central contract — making them both the first cricketers from Madhya Pradesh to receive a BCCI central contract. That alone is a landmark achievement for Madhya Pradesh cricket.
Where Does He Stand in India’s Plans?
His international career is still very much a work in progress. The 2024 Test series against England was tough. But the 2025 IPL title and his dominant domestic form have kept him firmly in the selectors’ minds. His strike rate, his big-match temperament, and his ability to absorb pressure make him a strong middle-order option in the limited-overs formats. The conversation is ongoing.
Rajat Patidar’s Batting Style and What Makes Him Special
Technique, Shot Selection, and Strike Rate
Rajat Patidar isn’t your typical anchor batter. He’s a top-order aggressor who backs himself from ball one. His footwork is sharp, his backlift is clean, and he’s particularly dangerous against both pace and spin — a rare quality for a batter who arrived late to the international scene.
What you’ll notice watching him bat is the speed at which he processes the game. He rarely looks like he’s settling in. The shots start coming from the second over, sometimes the second ball. His IPL strike rate of over 158 across all matches isn’t a product of slogging — it’s a product of excellent ball-striking and smart shot selection.
His Approach Against Pace vs Spin
Against pace, Rajat gets into strong positions early and uses the pace of the ball brilliantly. He drives well on both sides of the wicket and has a powerful pull shot that he plays late and along the ground. Against spin, he reads the line quickly, uses his feet effectively, and isn’t afraid to go over the top when the field is set deep.
ESPNcricinfo described him as someone who “rarely needs time to settle and is destructive against both pace and spin.” That’s not hype — it’s what the numbers back up.
Personal Life — Wife, Wedding, and Family
The Postponed Wedding Story
This is one of the most human stories in Indian cricket. In May 2022, Rajat was all set to get married. He’d been unsold at the IPL auction and assumed his season was over before it had started. The venue was booked. The plans were in place. Then Luvnith Sisodia got injured, RCB called, and cricket came calling once again.
Rajat postponed his wedding. Again. His devotion to the game had already cost him other family events and personal milestones. But this one was different — calling off a wedding with everything already arranged takes a specific kind of single-mindedness.
He finally got married on July 7, 2022 — just weeks after his famous 112* had made him a household name. The IPL Eliminator was on May 25; the wedding was on July 7. He scored a century, then got married. Not a bad two months.
His Wife Gunjan Patidar
Rajat is married to Gunjan Patidar. The couple keeps their relationship extremely private — there are very few public photos of them together, and Gunjan rarely appears in the media spotlight. She was present, however, when Rajat lifted the IPL trophy in 2025. Some reports also refer to his wife as Ananya Sharma, though this hasn’t been officially confirmed.
What is clear is that the couple shares a strong bond built on mutual respect and Gunjan’s understanding of the demands his cricket career places on their lives together.
Life Away From Cricket
Away from the pitch, Rajat is a fairly grounded person despite his growing celebrity status. His hobbies include travelling, playing golf, and cycling. He has a tattoo collection — a maze geometric tattoo on his left forearm, a lion on his left arm, and floral designs. He’s a big fan of Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara as cricketers, and outside cricket, he supports Manchester United and admires Cristiano Ronaldo.
He drives a Hyundai i20 and lives in a comfortable home in Indore with his family — a deliberately modest lifestyle for someone earning crores.
Rajat Patidar’s Net Worth and Earnings in 2025
IPL Salary From ₹20 Lakh to ₹11 Crore
The numbers alone tell you everything about how far Rajat has come.
- IPL 2021: ₹20 lakh (base price)
- IPL 2022: ₹20 lakh (replacement signing)
- IPL 2024: ₹50 lakh
- IPL 2025: ₹11 crore (retained as captain)
That’s a 55x increase in earnings within four years. Not many cricketers in any country have seen that kind of salary trajectory in such a short window.
Brand Endorsements and BCCI Contract
Rajat holds a Grade C BCCI central contract worth approximately ₹1 crore annually. His brand endorsement portfolio includes Sareen Sports, Skechers, and EATFIT. These partnerships currently contribute an estimated ₹2–3 crore annually, a number that’ll likely grow significantly as his profile continues to rise.
Lifestyle and Assets
As of 2025, Rajat Patidar’s net worth is estimated to be in the range of ₹25–30 crore. Despite those numbers, he keeps a grounded lifestyle. A Hyundai i20, a family home in Indore, no extravagant public displays. The focus is clearly still on cricket, not on the perks that come with it.
Career Records and Achievements
IPL Records
- First uncapped player to score a century in the IPL playoff stage (112* vs LSG, 2022)
- Joint-fastest century (49 balls) in IPL playoff history
- One of only two IPL-winning captains (alongside Shane Warne) to never play a T20I
- Won IPL title in just 13 matches as captain — among the fastest ever
Domestic Milestones
- Fifth-fastest century in Ranji Trophy history — 100 off 68 balls vs Haryana
- Key century in the 2022 Ranji Trophy final, helping MP win their first title in 69 years
- First Madhya Pradesh player to receive a BCCI central contract (along with Avesh Khan)
- Duleep Trophy 2025 — Central Zone title as captain
- Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2024-25 — Led MP to the final, second-highest scorer with 428 runs
Rajat Patidar Biography — Key Stats at a Glance
| Format | Matches | Runs | Average | Strike Rate | High Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tests | 3 | 63 | 10.50 | — | 32 |
| ODIs | 1 | 22 | 22.00 | 137.50 | 22 |
| IPL | 27+ | 799+ | ~35+ | 158.85+ | 112* |
| First-Class | 80+ | 5,000+ | 40+ | — | 200+ |
Frequently Asked Questions About Rajat Patidar
Who is Rajat Patidar? Rajat Patidar is an Indian international cricketer from Indore, Madhya Pradesh. He’s a right-handed top-order batter and off-break bowler who plays for Madhya Pradesh in domestic cricket and captains Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the IPL. He led RCB to their first-ever IPL title in 2025.
How old is Rajat Patidar? Rajat Patidar was born on June 1, 1993, making him 32 years old as of 2025.
Who is Rajat Patidar’s wife? Rajat Patidar is married to Gunjan Patidar. They wed on July 7, 2022, after Rajat famously postponed the wedding to play in the 2022 IPL season.
What is Rajat Patidar’s net worth? As of 2025, Rajat Patidar’s net worth is estimated to be between ₹25 crore and ₹30 crore, earned through his IPL salary, BCCI central contract, and brand endorsements.
What is Rajat Patidar’s highest score in IPL? His highest IPL score is 112 not out off 54 balls, scored in the IPL 2022 Eliminator against Lucknow Super Giants. It remains one of the greatest playoff innings in IPL history.
Did RCB win the IPL 2025 under Rajat Patidar? Yes. Rajat Patidar captained Royal Challengers Bengaluru to their first-ever IPL title in 2025, defeating Punjab Kings by six runs in the final at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad.
What is Rajat Patidar’s jersey number? He wears jersey number 87 for India and Madhya Pradesh, and number 97 for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the IPL.
When did Rajat Patidar make his international debut? He made his ODI debut on December 21, 2023, against South Africa in Paarl. His Test debut followed on February 2, 2024, against England in Visakhapatnam.