Will RCB captaincy impact Rajat Patidar's batting? Aakash Chopra opines
What's the story
Former Indian cricketer, Aakash Chopra, has shared his thoughts ahead of the upcoming IPL 2025 opener between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).
The match is scheduled to be played in Kolkata on March 22.
Rajat Patidar will be leading RCB while Ajinkya Rahane will be at the helm of KKR.
Chopra highlighted the importance of their captaincy in this high-stakes clash.
Dual role
Patidar's dual role: Captaincy and batting
Chopra emphasized Patidar's dual responsibility as RCB's captain and key batsman.
He was worried about the effect of captaincy pressure on Patidar's batting.
"You have become the captain, but it shouldn't happen that the batter is lost. That is what we don't want from an RCB point of view," he said on is YouTube channel.
Chopra reiterated that all eyes will be on Patidar this season.
Rahane's leadership
Rahane's experience and challenges as KKR captain
Chopra also spoke about Ajinkya Rahane's leadership role with KKR, considering his vast captaincy experience.
He said while Rahane has captained in 25 matches and led his side to victory in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, he still has a lot to prove as KKR captain.
Chopra said despite this experience, there are some big challenges lying ahead for him.
Selection insights
Chopra's insight on Rahane's captaincy selection
Chopra also gave an insight into KKR's selection process for the captaincy, hinting that Rahane might not have been the franchise's first choice.
He said that Rahane was bought for ₹1.50 crore, which he thought was an afterthought to give him captaincy after other captains were sold at higher prices.
This adds another layer of pressure on Rahane as he leads the defending champions in IPL 2025.