In what comes as another setback for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), their standout performer from last year, Rajat Patidar is likely to miss the first half of the upcoming 2023 Indian Premier League (IPL) season due to a heel injury.
As reported by ESPNCricinfo, he sustained the injury prior to joining the RCB training camp and is now undergoing rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bangalore.
Patidar has been advised to take a three-week rest period. A decision on his inclusion and participation in the second half of the IPL 2023 will be made following an MRI scan at the end of the rest period.
The report further stated that Patidar would need to receive clearance from the NCA to join the RCB Camp. RCB brought in Rajat Patidar last year as a replacement for the injured wicketkeeper Luvnith Sisodia, and he proved to be an exceptional addition to the team.
In just seven matches, he scored an impressive 333 runs with a strike rate of 152.75, including a breathtaking century against the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) at the Eden Gardens that helped RCB reach Qualifier 2.
Doubts loom over the participation of Josh Hazlewood and Glenn Maxwell for RCB
Things are not looking promising for the Royal Challengers Bangalore, as there are concerns over whether some of their star players will be available for the upcoming season. Among them is Australia’s star pacer Josh Hazlewood, who had to pull out of the ODI series against India due to an injury.
They are also facing uncertainty over the availability of Glenn Maxwell for the entire tournament. The star all-rounder recently returned to the field and played in the opening ODI against India, but missed the next two matches, and his presence in the tournament is currently in doubt.
