The Sunday special showdown of the Indian Premier League between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Punjab Kings has got a new shade along with the playoff chances, as the only title-winning captain for RCB has missed the important clash. This match is important for both teams in many ways. For RCB, it is simple: if they win, they are going to qualify for the playoffs, and they will secure the top two spot, but for Punjab Kings, it is a must-win game. For them, the second half of the tournament has remained bitter-sweet, failing to win consecutive five matches, PBKS has lost control of the chances of staying firm in the playoff race.
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In an important game like this, the unavailability of Rajat Patidar could prove costly. In place of Patidar, the vice-captain of RCB, Jitesh Sharma has filled the shoes. The wicket-keeper batsman has led RCB before and also captained Punjab Kings for half of the season due to the unavailability of Shikhar Dhawan and Sam Curran.
Why Rajat Patidar misses today’s game?
RCB stand-in captain Jitesh Sharma confirmed that Rajat Patidar was not fit enough to feature against Punjab Kings, but added that the skipper is expected to return for their final league-stage clash against Sunrisers Hyderabad on May 22. “Rajat is doing fantastic, and we should see him in Hyderabad,” Jitseh confirmed at the toss.
🚨 Toss 🚨@PunjabKingsIPL have won the toss and elected to bowl first against @RCBTweets
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 17, 2026
Jitesh Sharma is leading #RCB in absence of the injured Rajat Patidar.
Updates ▶️ https://t.co/3u5qL0Zn75#TATAIPL | #KhelBindaas | #PBKSvRCB pic.twitter.com/zBp1WIbxbj
Losing the toss, he stated that they are also looking to bowl first. Adding to that, he continued saying, “We are at the business end of the tournament, and I’m happy with how the team is performing, both individually and as a unit. Yes, we are very pleased that the team looks so stable right now. We are giving our absolute best in every department. One win tonight secures our spot in the playoffs, so it’s a massive game for us. Every game is important at this stage. This win can change the entire table - not just for us, but for several other teams as well.
RCB has made two changes for this match: Suyash Sharma replaced Rajat Patidar, and Shephard came in place of Jacob Duffy.
