IPL 2025: 3 RCB Players Who Did Well In SMAT 2024

Probuddha Bhattacharjee

Manoj Bhandage and Rajat Patidar [Source: @rrjjt_01, @Varungiri0/x.com]Manoj Bhandage and Rajat Patidar [Source: @rrjjt_01, @Varungiri0/x.com]

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The latest edition of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy came to end with Mumbai being crowned the champions for the second time in the history of the tournament. There were quite a few players involved in the tournament who will be playing for the different squads during the IPL 2025. 

The Royal Challengers Bengaluru have assimilated a good squad for the upcoming edition of the tournament. There were quite a few players from the franchise who were a part of the SMAT 2024. Here is a look at three RCB players who did well during the Indian domestic tournament.

3. Manoj Bhandage

RCB secured the serviceds of Manoj Bhandage for INR 30 Lakhs. The inclusion of the all-rounder was after his brilliant show during the Maharaja T20 League 2024. The RCB management will be happy with their recruitment as he has put in a decent show in the recently concluded SMAT 2024.  Although, he did not get much chance to bat, Bhandage did his job when it came to bowling. In seven matches, he picked up seven wickets whil maintaining a brilliant economy rate of 7.55.

2. Krunal Pandya

Krunal Pandya for LSG [Source: @CricCrazyJohns/x.com]Krunal Pandya for LSG [Source: @CricCrazyJohns/x.com]

Krunal Pandya was one of the star recruits for RCB during the IPL 2025 auction. They bought this Indian all-rounder for a price of INR 5.75 Cr. During the SMAT 2024, Krunal did not do a great job with the bat. He scored 136 runs in seven innings with a strike rate of around 120. However, it was his bowling that will encourage the RCB management. In nine matches, Pandya picked up eight wickets with an amazinmg economy of 6.77. Krunal did the job of a defensive bowler in the middle overs and emerged as a key player for Baroda in the tournament.

1. Rajat Patidar

Rajat Patidar was one of the retentions of RCB. They kept him as a core member of the team for INR 11 Cr. The management will feel that they have invested their money very well as Rajat Patidar has hit golden form during the SMAT 2024. During the tournament, he batted in eight innings and scored 428 runs in them. He had an amazing average of 61.14 during the tournament, while scoring at a strike rate of 186.08. Rajat Patidar was the second highest run-scorer in the tournament and was one of the best-performers in it.