Royal Challengers Bengaluru head into their last league-stage fixture with renewed fitness clarity, with Cricket Director Mo Bobat confirming that captain Rajat Patidar is fit to be selected after missing the previous outing due to concussion-related safeguards. Patidar’s return is a timely boost for an RCB side that has already booked its place in the playoffs, but is still intent on wrapping up the league phase on a high by collecting maximum points against Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Patidar had been ruled out of RCB’s match against Punjab Kings after he took a blow to the helmet during their encounter versus Kolkata Knight Riders. In his absence, wicketkeeper-batter Jitesh Sharma took charge of the team’s batting unit and led the side in that game.
Bobat set the tone for the selection call ahead of the SRH clash, stating that the captain is ready. “Rajat is good to go. We were careful and did not take any unnecessary chances with him. We felt it was best to allow a bit more time for recovery and rest, but he’s here, he’s practicing, and he’s good to go,” Bobat said. He also stressed that the squad’s mindset is squarely fixed on the immediate contest rather than looking too far beyond it. “It’s a bit of a cliché, but we just try to take one match at a time. Whether we play at home or away, it doesn’t really matter to us. We focus on understanding the conditions, respecting the opposition, planning for their threats, and then concentrating on the areas where we’re strong—so we can execute them as well as possible.”
He added that maintaining that approach game after game has helped RCB remain consistent. “And then you repeat that for every group game, so I don’t know if there’s a code or a secret. It’s encouraging that we’ve been steady. We’ve obviously won a number of matches, and even when we haven’t, we’ve still been competitive—which is a positive. We feel we’re in a good place, but we get there by keeping our attention on the next game,” Bobat continued.
On the challenge posed by SRH, Bobat underlined the level of danger across the competition. “All the teams in this tournament are strong, and there are dangerous players in every camp. Any side can take the game away from you, so you have to stay humble and show respect to the opposition, but you also need to be clear about your own strengths. We’re not overly guided by history or past records—we’re simply focusing on the match tomorrow night,” he said.
Bobat also highlighted the impact of fast bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who currently tops the wicket-taking chart with 24 scalps from 13 innings. “Bhuvi has been brilliant. His results have been excellent—he’s taken plenty of wickets—and he’s also bowled with great rhythm. He’s been able to make an impact both at the start of the innings and in the later phases, so we’re really pleased with how he’s been performing,” Bobat said.
Discussing Bhuvneshwar’s wider value within the squad, Bobat pointed to his leadership and calm decision-making under pressure. “He contributes well in meetings, and he’s a good source of insight and ideas on the field when things get tense. He can also be a great support to Rajat and Jitesh, and that’s really important. We get a lot out of him because he offers us so much,” Bobat added.
