The man who never changed: Rajat Patidar on cusp of leading RCB to consecutive IPL titles

When Rajat Patidar was handed the reins of Royal Challengers Bengaluru two years ago, not many saw it coming. A batter still carving out his place in one of the most followed franchises in the IPL" class="text-primary-600 hover:text-primary-700 dark:text-primary-400 dark:hover:text-primary-300 underline transition-colors font-medium" title="View Indian Premier League cricket series">Indian Premier League, Patidar stepped into the role with Virat Kohli alongside him in the playing XI and experienced figures like Dinesh Karthik and Andy Flower guiding things from the backroom. 

That support structure made the transition smoother than it might otherwise have been. What followed surpassed every expectation. RCB ended their long wait for IPL glory in 2025, and Patidar stood tall as the face of that triumph. Yet none of it has changed him. He still speaks less than most, observes more than most, and places process above everything else. As IPL 2026 arrives at its defining moment, that same quiet composure continues to define him.

One Win Away from Joining Dhoni and Rohit

On the brink of scripting history, Patidar finds himself just one win away from joining an exceptionally elite club of IPL captains. Should Royal Challengers Bengaluru successfully defend their title against Gujarat Titans on Sunday, he will stand alongside MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma as the only skippers to have retained the coveted trophy.

Yet the RCB captain is not consumed by the weight of that legacy or the pressure of comparisons. His approach to leadership has been grounded entirely in authenticity, a trait he believes is central to both his personal journey and the team's collective success.

'It's Important to Be Yourself'

"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 at the pre-match press conference on Saturday.

Focused on the Present, Not Comparisons

Having already led RCB to their maiden IPL title in 2025, Patidar now has the opportunity to build on that breakthrough and cement his place among the game's great captains. But rather than measuring himself against those who came before him, the 32-year-old remains focused purely on the challenge immediately in front of him.

"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," he said, encapsulating the grounded mindset that has carried both him and RCB to the doorstep of back-to-back IPL titles.

Important to take wickets: Captain Rajat Patidar backs RCB bowlers to deliver in IPL 2026 final

Rajat Patidar and Co. reached in the final after defeating GT in Qualifier 1 in Dharamshala. GT also won nine league games and finished second in the standings. After losing Qualifier 1, the Shubman Gill-led side defeated Rajasthan Royals (RR) by 7 wickets and advanced to the final.

Both teams have a brilliant bowling attack, which has helped them to reach in the final of the tournament. Josh Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar have done exceptionally well in the powerplay, and also picked up wickets in death overs, while Suyash Sharma, Krunal Pandya and Rasikh Dar also chipped in with crucial performances.

GT’s bowling attack boasted by the likes of Kagiso Rabada, Mohammed Siraj, Jason Holder and Rashid Khan, who have also delivered several match-winning performances this season. RCB captain Patidar backed his bowler to deliver another good performance in the final.

“If you want to win the competition, you need a good bowling attack. It’s important to take wickets because on this track, it’s easy to score 220-200. But defending 200-220 is more difficult. So, you need a better bowling side,” Patidar said during the pre-match press conference.

Patidar lavished praise on senior pacer Bhuvneshwar for leading the RCB bowling unit, as the latter has taken 26 wickets from 15 matches.

He also praised Bhuvneshwar and said that he’s an experienced bowler and has a lot of clarity. He further added that pacer’s plannings and strategies are very clear, which has played a big role for the team. Bhuvi has picked 26 wickets in 15 matches.

“Definitely, when you have top bowlers like Bhuvi and Hazlewood, you also need support from other bowlers. The way Rasik came in and did for the team, giving those breakthroughs is important because you cannot win the competition with only one or two bowlers,” he added.

The skipper also talked about Rasikh and said he has bowled well throughout the tournament, and there’s not massive pressure on one or two bowlers. He has taken 16 wickets in 11 matches.

Rajat Patidar not bothered about India T20I call

When asked if he was hoping to be selected in the Indian team for the upcoming away T20Is against Ireland and England, Patidar answered in the negative. He didn't beat around the bush and came up with the good, old-fashioned “no”.

“No, I am not looking forward to the possibility of getting selected for those tours [in June and July],” Patidar, whose exceptional 93 not out helped RCB beat Shubman Gill's GT in the first qualifier earlier this week, said.

‘We have not decided yet’: Patidar on Phil Salt’s inclusion

Patidar also provided an update on Phil Salt’s availability in the final and said that they have not decided anything yet. The opener suffered a left-hand finger injury while diving to save a boundary against the Delhi Capitals on April 18. He then flew back to the UK at the ECB’s request for scans and joined the team on May 22.

“Right now, he’s there at the nets, doing some sort of drills and batting. And again, we have not decided yet. We’ll see how the doctor and all the management will look at it,” Patidar said.

Both teams are aiming to win their second IPL title, and their bowlers will play a crucial role in achieving that in Ahmedabad on May 31.