The sudden suspension of IPL 2025 was disruptive for everyone, but for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), it came with a silver lining. According to their team director Mo Bobat, the unexpected pause gave key players like captain Rajat Patidar valuable time to recover, particularly from his hand injury.
Before the league was put on hold, RCB were enjoying one of their strongest campaigns in recent memory. Sitting second on the points table with eight wins and just three losses, they were just one victory away from sealing a playoff spot. Bobat reveals that their overseas players were “adamant” about returning to finish the job, underscoring the team’s hunger for success this season. You can keep track of RCB’s progress and points here.
While RCB has managed to bring back most of their international stars, Josh Hazlewood remains sidelined with a shoulder injury and is currently undergoing treatment in Australia. Bobat was tight-lipped about Hazlewood’s exact recovery timeline but confirmed ongoing communication between RCB’s medical staff and Cricket Australia. For those interested, more details on Hazlewood’s injury and recovery have been reported here.
On the brighter side, Patidar’s progress has been encouraging. The captain spent nearly 30 minutes in the nets ahead of RCB’s upcoming clash against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) without showing any signs of pain. Bobat explained that the forced break actually gave Patidar a bit more time to let the swelling subside and gradually get comfortable with the bat again. “He’s been building up ever so slowly, and it seems the disruption worked in his favor to aid his healing,” Bobat said.
Looking ahead, RCB should have a near full-strength squad for their first couple of games back, but the road isn’t entirely smooth. England’s Jacob Bethell, named in the West Indies ODI squad, and South Africa’s Lungi Ngidi, who’s involved in the World Test Championship final, will only be available for the league stage. Bobat confirmed that the team is already considering replacements but wants to approach the situation thoughtfully.
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