When Rajat Patidar was handed the reins of Royal Challengers Bengaluru two years ago, it was almost a tailor-made situation for him to learn, lead and grow. With Virat Kohli around and experienced heads like Dinesh Karthik and Andy Flower in the backroom staff, the transition became smoother for a batter still finding his footing in one of the most-followed teams in the Indian Premier League.
The move worked perfectly, perhaps even better than expected. RCB lifted their maiden IPL trophy in 2025, and Patidar emerged as the face of that success. Yet, the spotlight has not altered him much as a person.
He remains someone who speaks less but observes closely, someone who values detail over noise. As IPL 2026 reaches its business end, he continues
to carry himself with the same calmness.
On the brink of scripting history, Rajat Patidar finds himself just one win away from joining an elite club of IPL captains. If Royal Challengers Bengaluru successfully defend their title against the Gujarat Titans on Sunday, Patidar will stand alongside MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma as skippers who have retained the coveted trophy.
Yet, the RCB captain isn’t consumed by the weight of legacy or comparisons. Instead, his approach to leadership has been grounded in authenticity, a trait he believes is central to both his personal journey and the team’s success.
“Every captain wants to win trophies. But I never change myself because it’s important to be yourself. That’s what I’ve focused on. Even if I’m a captain, it doesn’t mean I have to do anything different,” Patidar said in the pre-match press conference on Saturday.
Having led RCB to their maiden IPL title in 2025, Patidar now has the opportunity to build on that breakthrough. But rather than measuring himself against past greats, the 32-year-old is focused purely on the present challenge.
“So, I’ve never thought about what a captain has done before and whether I want to compete with someone or not. As an individual, my journey has been a rollercoaster ride. Wherever I live, I focus on what I can do best.
“I’ve never thought about moving forward or going back. If I’m here, I’m just focusing on what I can do before the final, and tomorrow is the final, so we’ll try to give our best,” he added.
Patidar’s rise has been anything but conventional, and that perhaps explains his reluctance to be drawn into comparisons. His leadership reflects clarity and composure, shaped more by learning than imitation.
At RCB, he has benefited from sharing the dressing room with seasoned players like Virat Kohli and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, whose experience has offered valuable insights.
“There are a lot of learnings, especially off the field and on the field; there are a lot of helping hands. There are a lot of experienced players, from whom I’m getting a lot of good ideas. So, I’m trying to understand those ideas and apply them to the game.”
The support system extends beyond the dressing room. Head coach Andy Flower and director Mo Bobat have ensured that Patidar operates with freedom and trust.
“The management also plays a big role in this because they never force me. They know what kind of an individual I am. Even the senior players know what kind of an individual I am.
“So, there’s a good backing from the management and the senior players. So, I’ve never faced such a problem. And I’m in my zone. So that’s helping me,” he said.
Beyond strategy and results, Patidar has also embraced mentoring younger players, something he takes seriously.
“I always like to spend time with them. I always try to tell them that it’s important to be yourself. I was there in this situation in 2021. I was looking at the senior players. There was anxiety and nervousness.
“So, I keep telling them the same thing. You don’t need to look at who is standing in front of you. You are here because you deserve it. Focus on your strength rather than focusing more on what is not in your control.”
With his growing stature as a T20 batter and captain, talk of an India call-up has naturally followed. But Patidar remains grounded.
“I’m not looking forward to any selection regarding India. I don’t visualise to be the T20 captain of India,” he said. Excerpt: Rajat Patidar stays true to himself as RCB eye back-to-back IPL titles. One win from history, the captain focuses on the present, not comparisons or future ambitions.
