Huge setback for RCB: Superstar batter to miss games in first half of IPL 2023

It will be the defending champion Gujarat Titans taking on the four-time champion Chennai Super Kings. There has been plenty of news ahead of the start of the season about some key players from almost every team getting injured. On Sunday, one more name joined that list.

However, it is not the injury; actually, the star batter of the Royal Challengers Bangalore, Rajat Patidar, hasn't been able to recover from his existing injury, which might force him to miss games in the first half of the upcoming season. It might be a huge setback for the RCB.

Patidar was the third-highest run scorer for the franchise behind Faf du Plessis and Virat Kohli. He smashed a brilliant century against the Lucknow Super Giants in Qualifier 1, which helped RCB move on to the Eliminator. He scored 333 runs in just seven innings at 152.75.

As per the media report by ESPN Cricinfo, the right-hander is undergoing his rehab at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru and has been suggested to complete his rest for at least three weeks. However, his MRI scan will clear all his doubts about his participation in the second half of the competition.

The report suggests, "He picked up the injury prior to joining the camp, and will need an NCA clearance before linking up with Royal Challengers."

Interestingly, Patidar went unsold at the IPL 2022 auction but he joined RCB as the replacement for wicketkeeper Luvnith Sisodia and certainly made an impact. If he misses the initial games, then the RCB will have to rethink their batting combination as he has become a key member of the team.