New Delhi, March 23 -- Rajat Patidar faced his first challenge as captain even before Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) had stepped on the field. He was going to be without his most experienced bowler, Bhuvneshwar Kumar. They had shelled out a hefty Rs.10.75 crore for Bhuvneshwar Kumar at the IPL 2025 mega auction.

It was part of the management's conscious strategy of building a bowling attack with teeth, and fixing RCB's perennial weakness. But Bhuvneshwar Kumar wasn't available for RCB's season-opening clash against Kolkata Knight Riders due to what the franchise said was a "minor injury", promising "he'll be back soon".

Deprived of his senior-most bowler, Rajat Patidar then had a captaincy trial by fire as KKR rattled off to a blazin...