It’s not every day that an IPL captain—particularly an Indian skipper—doesn’t become the centre of attention. Yet for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, the spotlight has largely stayed fixed on Virat Kohli, often described as the batting side’s guiding force. Since Rajat Patidar took over the captaincy role, his influence has understandably attracted less public noise, even though the team’s results have continued to point to his growing impact. After helping RCB win their maiden IPL title last year, Patidar again played a key part in the franchise reaching back-to-back championship matches. On Tuesday, Bengaluru sealed a place in the final for the second straight season by outplaying the Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 1, setting up a summit clash where Patidar produced what can be seen as his most impressive innings of the campaign—smashing 93 off 33 balls to propel RCB forward.
So what lies behind Patidar’s success? For many, the answer is the “Virat Kohli factor.” Even without wearing the captain’s armband, Kohli remains widely viewed as the critical figure within the dressing room and on the field. When other Indian stars such as Shubman Gill, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel, and Hardik Pandya have faced tough stretches with their respective teams, criticism has followed quickly and loudly. At RCB, however, the atmosphere has looked different—because, regardless of the match outcome, Kohli continues to dominate headlines. Sometimes it’s about his runs (or the periods when they haven’t come), and other times it’s about his fiery presence and moments of on-field emotion. Even when Bengaluru went down in their league-stage finale against Sunrisers Hyderabad, much of the conversation still revolved around Kohli’s heated exchange with Travis Head.
That constant attention on Kohli has, in turn, eased the pressure on Patidar. With the public gaze firmly trained on the former India captain, Patidar has been able to operate with a greater sense of freedom, getting the best out of the squad around him while also bringing out his own best form. With scrutiny on captaincy decisions not landing as heavily on him, Patidar has become the first RCB skipper to guide the side to consecutive finals.
It’s all about the mindset
Captain Rajat Patidar’s approach, in many ways, is rooted in how he balances responsibility with clarity—using the environment created by Kohli’s presence to stay focused on the essentials. Kohli’s role has not just been about taking away pressure; it has also involved active backing since Bengaluru named Patidar as skipper. Kohli threw his support behind Patidar last year, praising him for his calm demeanour and his understanding of the game. That public endorsement gave Patidar, a middle-order batter, immediate credibility and confidence inside the dressing room.
After RCB’s match against Gujarat in Dharamsala, the franchise’s Director of Cricket, Mo Bobat, was asked about how Patidar manages captaincy duties without drawing excessive attention while still making the key calls with composure. Bobat responded that Patidar is naturally calm, adding that what stood out last season was how his experience grows with every game he leads. He said Patidar keeps things straightforward, focuses on doing his job when he’s out in the middle, and remains relaxed when he’s away from the pitch. Bobat also highlighted that Patidar is managing his energy effectively—saving intensity for his batting, which has been flowing, while still ensuring he has enough in reserve to refine tactics when it matters most during matches.
With Kohli and Patidar together, RCB have developed a “fire-and-ice” combination—one that blends intensity and control seamlessly, and is proving to be a decisive advantage as the franchise continues to chase titles.
