IPL 2023: 3 Players RCB Can Play At Number 3 in Rajat Patidar’s Absence

Rajat Patidar is set to miss the first half of IPL 2023 as per the reports from ESPN Cricinfo due to a heel injury. In Patidar’s absence, RCB will need to find the right man who can bat at the number 3 position and anchor the innings for Royal Challengers Bangalore. RCB’s star batter is currently undergoing rehab at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru. Patidar has been advised to rest for at least three weeks before he can participate in IPL 2023.

Rajat Patidar had scored 333 runs in 7 innings at a breathtaking strike rate of 152.75 in IPL 2022. The Madhya Pradesh batter was brought in as a replacement player and played exceptionally well for RCB. The RCB team management will now look to find a new batting combination in Patidar’s absence. They might also need to tinker with their opening combination of Faf du Plessis and Virat Kohli.

Here are the 3 players whom RCB can play at number 3 in Rajat Patidar’s absence:

1. Virat Kohli

RCB’s former skipper Virat Kohli did pretty well along with Faf du Plessis as an opener in IPL 2022. However, number 3 is Virat’s usual batting position where he has got maximum success. Virat plays for Team India in the third position and has done the same for RCB in most of the seasons. Kohli has regained his lost form and can actually do wonders even if he gets dropped to the number 3 position.

RCB will need Virat’s experience in the middle order in the absence of Rajat Patidar. This will also allow young Anuj Rawat or Finn Allen to open the innings with skipper Faf du Plessis.

2. Mahipal Lomror

The Rajasthan-based batter showed glimpses of his talent in the few opportunities he got for RCB in the previous edition. Lomror had played some crucial knocks for his previous franchise Rajasthan Royals as well. Mahipal Lomror has scored 267 runs in 15 innings in the IPL with a strike rate of 128. He can certainly anchor the RCB innings in the absence of Rajat Patidar as he has loads of experience in the domestic circuit.

Lomror also provides a left-handed option to the RCB top order which doesn’t have any other left-hand batter. Players like Glenn Maxwell, Dinesh Karthik and Shahbaz Ahmed can bat after him and okay their natural game.

3. Suyash Prabhudessai

Suyash Prabhudessai is one of the latest addition to RCB’s squad as he made his IPL debut for RCB last year against CSK. Suyash can be a great option if RCB decides to have a young aggressive batter at number 3. He has done exceedingly well in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy for his state side. The RCB management would want him to replicate the same form in the Indian Premier League.

However, Suyash Prabhudessai has just played 5 IPL games till now with the highest score of 34. The RCB franchise will have to invest in him a bit more to get optimum output from the young batter.