Rajat Patidar’s story has often been wrapped in the idea of being “so near, yet so far.” For years, the flamboyant batter racked up runs in domestic cricket without receiving the kind of spotlight that typically follows big numbers. Then came the knock that changed the conversation: after a disappointing IPL season in 2021, Patidar was released by Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Few would have predicted that four seasons later he would not only return to the franchise’s core plans, but steer them to a title and finally bring an 18-year wait to an end.
His IPL turnaround began in 2022, when RCB called him up in the middle of the season as a replacement for the injured Luvnith Sisodia. At the time, Patidar was playing division cricket in Indore, and the timing complicated things—his marriage date had already been set, and he wasn’t certain whether he would actually get an opportunity to play. The uncertainty eased thanks to advice from Shubham Sharma, a former Madhya Pradesh captain and a long-time friend of Patidar for nearly two decades. Sharma recalls pleading with him in familiar terms: “bhai tu ja 100 pratishat khilayenge (Please go, hundred percent you will play).”
Patidar took the chance and made it count. In IPL 2022, he finished with 333 runs across eight innings, striking at an eye-catching rate of 152.50. One innings stood out immediately: a blistering 112 off 54 balls against Lucknow Super Giants in the Eliminator. RCB’s run ended in the very next match, but Patidar didn’t lose momentum—he followed up with a smooth 58 in Qualifier 2 against Rajasthan Royals. A few weeks later, he carried that momentum into the Ranji Trophy, closing his dream stretch by hammering a match-winning hundred for Madhya Pradesh in the final.
That season didn’t just reshape his IPL life; it lifted his international trajectory as well. IPL 2022 proved to be a turning point, with Patidar earning an ODI debut and then, the very next year, receiving his maiden Test call-up against England. He played three Tests, though runs didn’t arrive in the same volume as domestic cricket, and an Achilles injury then sidelined him. The injury also kept him out of IPL 2023, making his return to big-league cricket even more significant.
Reflecting on Patidar’s journey, former India cricketer Amay Khurasia—who also serves as the mentor of the 32-year-old—offered a perspective that captures the patience behind talent. He said, “Kai baar pankh aur hausle dono hote hain magar udne ke liye aasman nahi hota (Sometimes you have the wings and courage but you don’t have the sky to fly).” The message was clear: Patidar eventually found his “sky,” even if it took time.
Ahead of IPL 2025, Patidar’s appointment as RCB captain sparked questions. There were eyebrows raised, as is often the case when responsibility is handed to someone whose rise has been anything but linear. Yet he stayed focused on the fundamentals—scoring decisive runs, making smart cricketing decisions, and using tactical awareness to help guide RCB to the trophy. The achievement was notable precisely because it proved difficult for some of the game’s biggest names to replicate; even the likes of Anil Kumble, Daniel Vettori, Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis had not managed to convert the franchise’s opportunities into a final triumph.
Patidar, however, insisted that captaincy change wasn’t about theatrics. “To be honest, I don’t need to do anything extra,” he said while discussing what had changed since RCB’s title win in Ahmedabad. He pointed to a support system built around experience: “Our management, coaching staff and senior players have a lot of experience and that is helping me a lot as a leader.” He also described how ideas flow through the group—naming Virat Kohli as VK “bhai,” and adding Devdutt Padikkal, Jitesh Sharma, Josh Hazlewood and Tim David to the list of voices that shape his thinking. “Overall, I do not need to change anything. My strength, my calmness, and the way I back my instincts, that is what I am doing.”
In the same breath, Patidar explained how he approaches communication and game awareness without trying to become someone else. “I don’t need to do anything separately. I am not as expressive as I am individually. But with game awareness, I understand situations well. I communicate as much as I can so that I can get more ideas about what we can do better. Overall, I don’t need to change anything. My strength, my calmness, and the way I back my instincts, that is what I am doing.”
Even if Patidar doesn’t frame it as a transformation, the changes are visible. His hair has grown longer, but more importantly, his confidence has grown steadier. On the eve of the IPL 2025 final, when most of the attention went to Punjab Kings skipper Shreyas Iyer, the questions still found their way to Patidar—this time about Virat Kohli and what fans expect. Where last year he appeared to be learning the ropes, this season he handled the spotlight with assurance, turning questions into answers without hesitation.
Patidar set the tone for RCB’s mindset heading into the decisive stage. “From the very start of the season, our focus has simply been on winning every game. If we win here, the team will get a good break before the final, which is important, and I think everyone is looking forward to that,” he said. The plan sounded simple, but it reflected the maturity RCB have shown under pressure—turning preparation into clarity as the tournament reaches its climax.
History adds extra weight to the moment. MS Dhoni (2010, 2011) and Rohit Sharma (2019, 2020) remain the only captains to lead their teams to back-to-back IPL titles. With RCB now pushing for the next step, Rajat Patidar stands just two victories away from placing his name beside that elite list—turning a career once described as “so near, yet so far” into one that now looks fully aimed at the top.
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