‘This math isn’t mathing’: Aakash Chopra questions RCB’s influence on Rajat Patidar’s MP captaincy, sparks debate | Cricket News – Times of India

RCB captain Rajat Patidar with Virat Kohli

NEW DELHI: Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra has triggered a storm of debate on social media after questioning feedback made by Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) Director of Cricket, Mo Bobat, concerning Rajat Patidar’s rise as a captain.RCB’s resolution to nominate Patidar as their new skipper forward of the IPL 2025 season was a ‘surprise’ to many. However, Bobat, chatting with Cricbuzz, revealed that talks round Patidar’s management function started halfway by way of the 2024 season.

Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!“Actually, if I’m totally honest, the thought on Rajat was even earlier than what people might have thought. Midway through the 2024 season, I first spoke to him about captaincy and leadership,” Bobat mentioned.

The RCB official additional disclosed that he inspired Patidar to hunt captaincy alternatives on the state stage. “I did say: ‘Look, for you to even be an option or one of our senior leaders, it’d be good if you did some captaincy. So, go to your seniors, see if they’d be prepared to make you captain, even if it’s just for white-ball cricket. Then let’s see how it goes,’” Bobat added.Patidar soon spoke to Madhya Pradesh coach Chandrakant Pandit and was named MP captain, later leading them to the final of the 2024-25 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.But Bobat’s remarks left Chopra stunned. The former India batter took to X and wrote: “A franchise can’t probably ‘nudge’ somebody to guide in ‘domestic cricket’. Right? One might perceive if somebody is a seasoned State Team captain and is requested to proceed (in case, he’s provided the captaincy by the state crew once more). Rajat was a primary-time skipper at MP. This math isn’t mathing.”Chopra’s post has since sparked widespread debate on whether IPL franchises should have any influence on state cricket captaincy decisions.While RCB might have found their leader in Patidar and they won their maiden IPL title, Chopra’s sharp remark has ensured the discussion around the ethics of such influence is far from over.