Every IPL season produces its fair share of bizarre trends and coincidences.
Some last a few matches. Others disappear as quickly as they emerge. But one peculiar pattern involving Hardik Pandya and the annual IPL captains' photoshoot has somehow survived for three straight seasons-and it is still alive heading into the IPL 2026 final.
For the last three years, the captain standing directly beside Hardik Pandya during the official pre-season captains' photoshoot has gone on to lift the IPL trophy.
This year, that captain is Rajat Patidar.
And with Royal Challengers Bengaluru now through to another IPL final, fans are once again wondering whether one of the league's strangest streaks is about to continue.
The curious Hardik Pandya photoshoot streak
What started as an amusing social media observation
has gradually turned into a full-blown IPL conspiracy theory.
For the last three IPL seasons, the captain standing beside Hardik Pandya in the captains' photoshoot has gone on to lift the trophy. 🏆📸
- myKhel.com (@mykhelcom) May 30, 2026
This year, the skipper beside him has reached the final. Will the streak continue? 👀#IPL2026 #RCBvGT #Mykhel #OI pic.twitter.com/qhn1dMuK09
The trend dates back to 2023, when MS Dhoni found himself standing beside Hardik Pandya in the official captains' photoshoot. Months later, Chennai Super Kings lifted the trophy.
A year later, the pattern repeated itself.
In 2024, it was Shreyas Iyer standing next to Hardik. Kolkata Knight Riders went on to dominate the tournament and clinch the title.
Then came 2025.
Once again, the captain beside Hardik Pandya happened to be Rajat Patidar. By the end of the season, RCB had finally ended their long wait for an IPL crown, securing the franchise's maiden title under their new skipper.
Three seasons. Three champions.
The coincidence was impossible to ignore.
Rajat Patidar keeps the streak alive
When the captains assembled for the IPL 2026 media day, fans immediately began scanning the photos.
There it was again. Standing beside Hardik Pandya was Rajat Patidar.
At the time, it was little more than an entertaining statistic. But after RCB's dominant run to another final, the pattern has suddenly become relevant once more.
Unlike previous years, however, there is a twist.
Patidar is no longer chasing his first title. He is now attempting to become only the latest captain to guide his franchise to back-to-back IPL championships.
If RCB defeat Gujarat Titans in the final, the Hardik-adjacent captain streak will extend to four consecutive seasons.
Why Patidar's success is no coincidence
While the photoshoot trend makes for great social media content, Patidar's rise as a captain has been built on far more substantial foundations.
The RCB skipper has quietly transformed the franchise's fortunes since taking over.
Leading a team that spent years struggling under the weight of expectations, Patidar delivered the club's first-ever IPL title in 2025 before guiding them back to the final again this season.
More impressively, he has managed to do so while thriving as a batter.
His unbeaten 93 against Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 1 was another reminder that he is capable of influencing matches both as captain and as one of RCB's most important players.
How Rajat Patidar has changed RCB's culture
One of Patidar's biggest strengths has been his calmness.
Unlike some captains who dominate headlines through animated celebrations or emotional outbursts, Patidar has developed a reputation for understated leadership.
That composure has proven particularly valuable at a franchise that has often struggled with pressure.
Balancing a dressing room featuring superstars like Virat Kohli while also empowering younger players is rarely straightforward. Yet Patidar has managed to create an environment where RCB look settled, confident, and remarkably clear in their approach.
The results speak for themselves.
Back-to-back finals have placed him in conversations usually reserved for IPL's most successful captains.
Can Shubman Gill finally break the pattern?
Of course, every streak eventually faces its toughest test. Waiting on the other side is Shubman Gill and Gujarat Titans.
Gill already knows what it takes to win an IPL title and has built one of the most balanced teams in the competition. After falling short in Qualifier 1, GT fought their way back into the final and now have an opportunity to spoil both RCB's title defense and the Hardik photoshoot prophecy.
The final therefore offers two storylines.
One is about a championship.
The other is about whether an entirely random piece of IPL folklore can somehow survive for yet another year.
If Rajat Patidar lifts the trophy once again, fans may have no choice but to start taking the Hardik Pandya photoshoot curse-or blessing-a little more seriously.
