Rajat Patidar to miss IPL 2023 due to Achilles Heel injury

Royal Challengers Bangalore’s Rajat Patidar has been ruled out of the 2023 Indian Premier League due to an Achilles Heel injury, the franchise confirmed on Tuesday (April 4). The RCB coaches and management have decided not to name a replacement yet.

The 29-year-old wasn’t part of Bangalore’s first game against Mumbai Indians on April 2 and was rehabbing at the National Cricket Academy. The Madhya Pradesh batter, who scored a century in the last year’s Eliminator, picked up the injury right before joining the pre-season camp. 

Last year, Patidar was a real blessing for RCB and ended the season as the third-highest run-scorer for the franchise. Scoring 333 runs in seven innings at a strike rate of 152.75, the right-hander became a sure contender for the No. 3 spot in IPL 2023. Unfortunately, it wasn’t meant to be.

A week after his IPL was done, Patidar made 323 runs @ 80.75 in the Ranji Trophy knockouts, including a century in the final against Mumbai. He made almost 1000 runs in three months of playing cricket, crossing fifty in every knockout match he played at least once and looking like a million dollars while doing it.

Bangalore, who won the first game by eight wickets, didn’t really miss Patidar against Mumbai, thanks to Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis. However, RCB could slot in one of Anuj Rawat or Mahipal Lomror at that No. 3 spot, but they are not as established as Patidar.

Bangalore are next scheduled to play Kolkata Knight Riders on April 6.