Years before the glitz and billions of the Indian Premier League brought them back together, Aryaman Vikram Birla and Rajat Patidar shared the dressing
room as teammates for Madhya Pradesh cricket team.
Back then, the two were part of a promising domestic unit that also featured future India all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer. Aryaman Birla often opened the batting alongside Patidar in domestic cricket, forming partnerships at the top of the order during their time in the Ranji Trophy circuit.
Fast forward to IPL 2026, and fate - along with one of the biggest franchise deals in cricket history has reunited the duo in a dramatically different setting.
Aryaman Birla is now set to serve as chairman of Royal Challengers Bengaluru following the record-breaking acquisition of the franchise by a consortium led by the Aditya Birla Group. Meanwhile, Rajat Patidar has taken over as captain of the Bengaluru-based side, becoming the face of the team on the field.
The reunion is one of cricket's most striking full-circle moments from opening partners in domestic cricket to chairman and captain of one of the IPL's biggest franchises.
For fans, the symbolism runs deeper than coincidence. It highlights how careers in cricket can evolve in unexpected ways, blending sport, business, and leadership over time.
What began as a partnership between two young batters in domestic cricket has now transformed into a leadership alliance at one of the most valuable franchises in world cricket - proving that sometimes, cricket really does come full circle.
