Ranji Trophy 2025-26: Rajat Patidar Smashes Maiden First-Class Double Century, Extends Red-Ball Dominance

Rajat Patidar, the captain who led Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) to the Indian Premier League title, continues his top form in the Ranji Trophy. He has been appointed Madhya Pradesh captain ahead of the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy. The player proved the team management's decision right by scoring a massive innings in his very first match.

Rajat Patidar Hits Double Hundred in Ranji Trophy 2025-26

Rajat began the tournament by scoring his maiden first-class double century. He achieved this feat against Punjab at the Emerald Heights International School Ground in Indore. Patidar, who succeeded Shubham as captain of the state team, reached 200 runs on the 328th ball of his innings. This surpassed his previous highest first-class score. Rajat had scored 196 runs against Tamil Nadu in the 2018 Ranji season.

🚨 DOUBLE HUNDRED FOR CAPTAIN RAJAT PATIDAR 🚨

- Madhya Pradesh Captain Patidar smashed a phenomenal Double Hundred against Punjab in Ranji Trophy.

He continues to score big in Domestic Cricket. pic.twitter.com/12g2L6lxxj

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) October 17, 2025

Patidar came in to bat at number five when Madhya Pradesh was in trouble at 155 for four. Punjab's first innings score was 232. Patidar, along with Venkatesh Iyer, turned the game around, forging a crucial century partnership that bailed the hosts out of trouble and gave them a first-innings lead. On the first day, Patidar scored an unbeaten 107* off 185 balls to guide Madhya Pradesh to 305 for 6, giving them a 73-run lead over Punjab's first innings score of 232.

Patidar's Test comeback?

Patidar made his Test debut against England in 2024. He has played three Test matches so far, scoring 63 runs in six innings. Patidar returned to Test cricket at the start of the last Ranji Trophy season. Patidar emerged as Madhya Pradesh's highest run-scorer, amassing 529 runs at an average of 48.09, including one century and two half-centuries.

He also played a key role in MP's runner-up finish in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. Earlier this year, Patidar led Royal Challengers Bangalore to their first Indian Premier League (IPL) title, defeating Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. This victory fulfilled the dream of Virat Kohli, the team's longtime captain. The former captain became emotional after winning the IPL trophy.

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