In Dharamsala, Rajat Patidar’s rise has long carried the bittersweet flavour of a familiar line—“so near, yet so far.” For a long time, the aggressive batter looked destined to keep compiling runs without the breakthrough that turns domestic success into global spotlight. A disappointing IPL season in 2021 only reinforced that narrative, and the setback became sharper when Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) let him go. Yet four years on, the same player is now the face of RCB’s title campaign, with a once-in-a-lifetime turnaround that ended an 18-year wait for silverware.
RCB’s story with Patidar began in IPL 2022, when the franchise came calling mid-season as a replacement for the injured Luvnith Sisodia. Patidar, then playing division cricket in Indore, was hesitant at first. His marriage date had already been set, and he wasn’t sure whether the opportunity would truly translate into game time. What changed his mind was the support system around him, particularly the guidance from former Madhya Pradesh captain Shubham Sharma—someone who has remained close to Patidar for nearly two decades.
Sharma recalled how he pushed him to take the call. “I begged him, ‘bhai tu ja 100 pratishat khilayenge’—please go, you’ll be playing for sure,” he said, highlighting how belief and clarity helped Patidar make the jump when it mattered.
Once he got his chance, Patidar made it count. In IPL 2022, he finished with 333 runs across eight innings, striking at 152.50. One of his defining knocks arrived against Lucknow Super Giants in the Eliminator, where he produced a stunning 112 off just 54 balls. Although RCB’s run ended in the very next match, he did not lose momentum, carrying the form into Qualifier 2 with a composed 58 against Rajasthan Royals. A few weeks later, the dream continued to build when he sealed the season with a match-winning century for Madhya Pradesh in the Ranji Trophy final.
IPL 2022 did more than give Patidar momentum—it reshaped his entire career path. The breakthrough season paved the way for his ODI debut, and soon after, he earned his first Test call-up the following year against England. He played three Tests, but returns were limited, and an Achilles injury then shut the door for a period. That setback also cost him IPL 2023, forcing him to sit out as the recovery took precedence.
Reflecting on Patidar’s journey is Amay Khurasia, a former India cricketer who now serves as the mentor of the 32-year-old. Khurasia framed it with a reminder drawn from life rather than cricket alone: “Kai baar pankh aur hausle dono hote hain magar udne ke liye aasman nahi hota.” In other words, sometimes you have the wings and the courage, but the sky for flight isn’t there yet.
Despite those international struggles and the interruptions caused by injury, Patidar eventually found the conditions that allowed his talent to fly. Ahead of IPL 2025, his appointment as RCB captain drew some raised eyebrows, but he answered the doubts with performances that mattered. He kept finding runs at crucial moments, and beyond batting, he offered tactical clarity that helped steer RCB to the trophy. It was a result that even names like Anil Kumble, Daniel Vettori, Virat Kohli, and Faf du Plessis—stars who have led RCB—could not deliver in their respective stretches.
When asked what had changed in his captaincy since RCB’s triumph in Ahmedabad last year, Patidar offered a grounded response. “To be honest, I don’t need to do anything extra,” he said. He pointed to the environment around him—experienced management, coaching support, and senior players—as the real reason he could keep improving. Patidar also described how ideas flow within the dressing room, naming Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Jitesh Sharma, Josh Hazlewood, and Tim David as key contributors to his thinking as a leader.
He added that his approach is built on personal strengths rather than dramatic reinvention. “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.” He further explained his communication style, saying he doesn’t see himself as overly expressive as an individual, but he uses game awareness and situational understanding to stay aligned with the plan. “I communicate as much as I can so that I can get more ideas about what we can do better,” he said, before returning to the same core message: calmness, instinct, and letting clarity guide decisions.
Even if Patidar downplays it, the transformation is obvious. His confidence has risen, and his public presence has changed along with his cricketing identity, with his hair now grown longer. On the eve of the IPL 2025 final, while questions were largely directed towards Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer, Patidar was asked about Virat Kohli and the expectations from fans—an indication of how quickly his role has shifted from hopeful to anchor.
Where last season may have looked like learning the ropes, the captain now appears to handle pressure with composure and control. From the start of the tournament, he said, the team’s focus has been simple: win every match. “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, tying the immediate objective to the bigger picture as the endgame approaches.
Back-to-back IPL titles remain a rare club. MS Dhoni (2010, 2011) and Rohit Sharma (2019, 2020) are the only captains to have led their sides to consecutive championships. With RCB now closing in, Rajat Patidar stands two wins away from joining that elite list.
