all rounder
| Full name: | Rajat Bhatia |
| Nationality: | India |
| League | First class | List a | T20 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Matches | 112 | 119 | 146 |
| Innings | 170 | 98 | 137 |
| Overs | 1659.5 | 655.1 | 420.0 |
| Balls | - | - | - |
| Maidens | 506 | 34 | 1 |
| Runs | 3823 | 2945 | 3020 |
| Wickets | 137 | 93 | 111 |
| Avg | 27.9 | 31.66 | 27.2 |
| SR | 72.69 | 42.26 | 22.7 |
| Eco | 2.3 | 4.49 | 7.19 |
| BB | 6 | 5 | 4 |
| 4w | 4 | 1 | 1 |
| 5w | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 10w | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| League | First class | List a | T20 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Matches | 112 | 119 | 146 |
| Innings | 157 | 105 | 95 |
| Not outs | 25 | 31 | 37 |
| Runs | 6482 | 3038 | 1251 |
| Balls Faced | 12935 | 3716 | 1079 |
| Avg | 49.1 | 41.05 | 21.56 |
| SR | 50.11 | 81.75 | 115.94 |
| Fours | 745 | 247 | 85 |
| Fifties | 30 | 19 | 1 |
| Sixies | 60 | 47 | 43 |
| Highest | 212 | 106 | 107 |
| Hundreds | 17 | 3 | 1 |
Former KKR all-rounder Rajat Bhatia insisted that Gautam Gambhir was not the greatest of captains in 2010, when he led Delhi Daredevils, but asserted that he enjoyed playing under the latter in KKR. Bhatia played an integral role in KKR winning their first-ever IPL title in the 2012 season.
Rajat Bhatia, born on October 22, 1979, in India, carved a name for himself as a consistent performer in India’s domestic circuit. While he never made it to the senior national team, his contributions to Indian cricket — especially in the Ranji Trophy and the IPL — earned him deep respect. Known for his calm approach and smart all-round skills, Bhatia’s career spanned over two decades, beginning in the 1999-2000 season and ending in 2020.
Bhatia started his first-class career with Tamil Nadu but later moved to Delhi, where he found his real rhythm. He became a key player in Delhi’s Ranji Trophy setup and played a big role in their title win during the 2007–08 season. He scored over 6,400 runs and took 137 wickets in first-class cricket. His top score was an unbeaten 212 for Uttarakhand in 2018, just before his retirement.
One of his most memorable knocks came in 2006 against Tamil Nadu when he smashed 185 runs in a make-or-break game that saved his spot in the Delhi team. This inning helped him revive his career and paved the way for two successful Ranji seasons in 2006–07 and 2007–08.
Bhatia was later called up for an India ‘A’ tour to Israel, but he never got close to national selection beyond that. He admitted that the Israel tour felt more like a formality than a real opportunity. Despite being overlooked at the international level, he kept delivering strong performances.
In the IPL, he played for franchises like Delhi Daredevils and Kolkata Knight Riders, where he won the title in 2012. He became known for his variations in bowling and clever use of cutters, especially in slow tracks. During that 2012 season, he took 13 wickets in 16 matches with an economy of 7.31.
Bhatia ended his career in July 2020, after a final season with Uttarakhand. Post-retirement, he expressed frustration with Delhi’s cricket administration and emphasized the importance of nurturing local talent. He now looks forward to contributing to the game through biomechanics and training.
Though he never wore the Indian cap, Rajat Bhatia’s name remains synonymous with consistency, professionalism, and cricketing wisdom in domestic cricket.
Although Rajat Bhatia’s time with the Indian national team was short, it remains a part of his overall cricket story. Below is a year-by-year breakdown of his international appearances:
2006
2009
After 2009
Rajat Bhatia had an active career in various domestic and franchise leagues, where he showed his skills as a dependable all-rounder. His performances in these leagues helped him gain recognition and experience over many seasons.
In the Indian Premier League (IPL), Bhatia played for several teams, contributing both with the bat and ball. From 2008 to 2010, he represented Delhi Daredevils, then moved to Kolkata Knight Riders from 2011 to 2013. He played for Rajasthan Royals during 2014–2015 and finished his IPL journey with Rising Pune Supergiants in 2016–2017.
Rajat Bhatia played in the IPL since its start in 2008, representing four different teams over the years. Known for his all-round abilities, he contributed both with bat and ball, often stepping up in crucial moments. His highest auction value was in 2014 when Rajasthan Royals bought him for INR 1.7 crore. He played his last IPL season in 2017 for Rising Pune Supergiants.
|
Year |
Team |
Notes |
|
2008–2010 |
Delhi Daredevils |
Played regularly; known for steady all-round performances |
|
2011–2013 |
Kolkata Knight Riders |
Key player; helped team with both batting and bowling |
|
2014–2015 |
Rajasthan Royals |
Bought for INR 1.7 crore; consistent performances |
|
2016–2017 |
Rising Pune Supergiants |
Bought for INR 60 lakh; played final IPL seasons |
Rajat Bhatia had a long and steady domestic cricket career that began in the 1999/2000 season. He started with Tamil Nadu, making his first-class and List A debuts against the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo around 2000. After a couple of seasons, he returned to his home state team, Delhi, where he became a key player. Bhatia played an important role in Delhi’s Ranji Trophy victory in the 2007-08 season, scoring 512 runs in seven matches and helping the team win the title for the first time in 16 years. He also made his Twenty20 debut for Delhi in 2007.
Over the years, Bhatia represented several teams including Tamil Nadu, Delhi, Rajasthan, and Uttarakhand. He led the Uttarakhand side in the 2018 Ranji Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy, finishing as the leading run-scorer for Uttarakhand in the 2018-19 Ranji Trophy group stage with 700 runs in eight matches. Throughout his career, he played 100 first-class matches, a milestone reached during the 2015-16 Ranji season. Despite his consistent domestic performances, he was never able to secure a permanent spot in the national team.
In November 2015, after playing 81 matches for Delhi and scoring 4,666 runs along with taking 96 wickets, he was released from the team and moved to Rajasthan. Ahead of the 2018-19 season, he transferred to Uttarakhand where he finished his career. Bhatia retired from all forms of cricket in July 2020.
Known as a dependable all-rounder, Bhatia combined medium-pace bowling with solid batting. His ability to perform under pressure and his longevity made him a respected figure in Indian domestic cricket.
Rajat Bhatia’s cricket career includes several notable records and achievements that highlight his consistency and impact, especially in domestic cricket and the Indian Premier League. His contributions have helped teams secure victories, and his all-round skills made him a valuable player throughout his long career.
Rajat Bhatia has stayed largely out of the spotlight when it comes to his personal life. While his professional achievements are well-documented, only limited details are publicly known about his family, assets, or day-to-day lifestyle. What is known includes his financial background, a few controversies, and how he is viewed by fans.
There is no publicly available information about his wife, children, or other close relatives. Bhatia has not spoken much about his family in interviews or media appearances.
As of October 2024, Rajat Bhatia’s estimated net worth stands at more than 500,000 USD. Most of his earnings came through his domestic cricket career, the Indian Premier League, and involvement in various local leagues.
Born and raised in Delhi, Bhatia spent the majority of his career based in his hometown. While he hasn’t revealed much about his properties or vehicles, it's known that he continued living in Delhi even after retirement in July 2020.
Although Rajat Bhatia was not known for controversy during his playing days, a few incidents have brought him into the media spotlight.
As of 2024, Bhatia has around 3,400 followers on Instagram. His fan base includes long-time followers of Indian domestic cricket and those who remember his consistent IPL appearances.
