In a big boost, Royal Challengers Bengaluru had its captain Rajat Patidar back in training ahead of Saturday’s home Indian Premier League game against Kolkata Knight Riders, at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on Thursday. RCB has one foot in the Playoffs and can confirm that berth with a win over KKR.

Patidar, who had injured his hand in the match against Chennai Super Kings on May 3, started gingerly, going through a couple of fitness routines before facing some harmless throwdowns, all the while sporting a few strappings on his right ring finger.

The 31-year-old then moved to the main nets fully padded up and attempted many a big hit. He managed to send a handful of balls soaring into the stands, but did not middle everything and mishit many.

But the RCB thinktank led by Mo Bobat, Dinesh Karthik and Andy Flower, which was in full attendance for the session, wouldn’t mind, for the key was to see the skipper back in action ahead of IPL’s restart.

Earlier, Phil Salt and Virat Kohli started the evening in earnest fashion, clubbing multiple balls into the stands. Mayank Agarwal, who is expected to slot in for the injured Devdutt Padikkal, also saw batting time, along with bespoke fielding drills.

Kohli, who announced his retirement from red-ball cricket on Monday, also exchanged a few pleasantries with his former Test teammate and current KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane.

On Thursday morning, the club confirmed that nearly all members of its foreign contingent, including Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Jacob Bethell, Liam Livingstone and Lungi Ngidi, were back in the city.

But the issue for RCB is that, owing to international commitments, not all of these top players will be up for selection if the outfit goes all the way up to the IPL final on June 3.

There is still no clarity on star pacer Josh Hazlewood’s availability for the rest of the tournament. Hazlewood missed the CSK tie with a shoulder niggle but has since been named in Australia’s squad for the World Test Championship final against South Africa from June 11.