Rajat Patidar looks set to join the growing list of players who are likely to miss either the entire season or a part of the upcoming season of the Indian Premier League (IPL).
The Royal Challengers Bangalore batsman is reportedly set to miss at least the first half of the upcoming season due to a heel injury. The right-handed batsman is currently undergoing rehab at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru.
Rajat Patidar had a stunning outing in IPL 2022. He had initially gone unsold at the auction for IPL 2022 before RCB signed him as a replacement and he grabbed the opportunity with both hands. He became the first uncapped Indian to hit a century in a playoff game when he achieved the feat against Lucknow Super Giants.
It was followed by a fine fifty in the second Qualifier against Rajasthan Royals. The middle-order batsman finished his second IPL season with 333 runs at a strike rate of 152.75. Few days later, he helped MP win their maiden Ranji title and then went on to earn his maiden call-up from the Indian team.
Rajat Patidar suffers injury setback:
While Rajat Patidar would have hoped of having another fine season in the IPL this year, it looks likely that he will miss a good number of games due to injury. According to ESPNcricinfo, Patidar has been advised rest for the next three weeks before an MRI scan will determine his participation in the second half of the competition.
The RCB batsman picked up the injury prior to joining the franchise’s camp. He will now need the clearance from the NCA before joining the franchise for IPL 2023. The sixteenth edition of the tournament is scheduled to begin from March 31.