'This math isn't mathing': Aakash Chopra questions RCB's influence on Rajat Patidar's MP captaincy, sparks debate

NEW DELHI: Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra has triggered a storm of debate on social media after questioning comments made by Royal Challengers Bengaluru's (RCB) Director of Cricket, Mo Bobat, regarding Rajat Patidar's rise as a captain.RCB's decision to appoint Patidar as their new skipper ahead of the IPL 2025 season was a ‘surprise’ to many. However, Bobat, speaking to Cricbuzz, revealed that talks around Patidar's leadership role began midway through the 2024 season.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!“Actually, if I'm totally honest, the thought on Rajat was even earlier than what people might have thought. Midway through the 2024 season, I first spoke to him about captaincy and leadership,” Bobat said.The RCB official further disclosed that he encouraged Patidar to seek captaincy opportunities at the state level. “I did say: ‘Look, for you to even be an option or one of our senior leaders, it'd be good if you did some captaincy. So, go to your seniors, see if they'd be prepared to make you captain, even if it's just for white-ball cricket. Then let's see how it goes,'” Bobat added.Patidar soon spoke to Madhya Pradesh coach Chandrakant Pandit and was named MP captain, later leading them to the final of the 2024-25 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.But Bobat's remarks left Chopra stunned. The former India batter took to X and wrote: "A franchise can’t possibly ‘nudge’ someone to lead in ‘domestic cricket’. Right? One could understand if someone is a seasoned State Team captain and is asked to continue (in case, he’s offered the captaincy by the state team again). Rajat was a first-time skipper at MP. This math isn’t mathing.”Chopra's post has since sparked widespread debate on whether IPL franchises should have any influence on state cricket captaincy decisions.While RCB might have found their leader in Patidar and they won their maiden IPL title, Chopra's sharp remark has ensured the discussion around the ethics of such influence is far from over.