Royal Challengers Bengaluru captain Rajat Patidar says he’s staying fully focused on the task in hand as his team prepares for the 2026 IPL final against Gujarat Titans at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday. On the eve of the title clash, the RCB skipper addressed the media with one message: nothing is taking his attention away from winning a second consecutive championship.
Quick facts
- RCB face Gujarat Titans in the 2026 IPL final at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, on Sunday.
- Rajat Patidar said he is not expecting to be selected for Ireland and England away T20Is in June and July.
- Patidar’s 93 not out helped RCB beat Shubman Gill’s GT in the first qualifier earlier this week.
- The first qualifier was played on Tuesday; GT played again on Friday night, beating RR.
When questioned about whether he was hopeful of earning a call-up for the upcoming away T20I assignments versus Ireland and England, Patidar shut down the idea quickly. He replied with a clear “no” and added that he isn’t looking at those tours as a possibility for himself. Patidar’s tone suggested he’s determined to keep his mind locked on IPL business rather than branching out to international plans.
Patidar also discussed the form of Gujarat Titans’ batting unit this season, acknowledging how consistent their top three has been. Openers Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan have piled up more than 700 runs, while No. 3 Jos Buttler has contributed strongly as well. Despite the praise, the captain didn’t sound concerned—he insisted RCB have already mapped out ways to handle the threat.
“Yes, their top-order is quite good,” Patidar said, before stressing that RCB have “some plans” and simply need to put them into action on Sunday. The focus, according to him, is execution—turning strategy into pressure during the key moments of the final.
Back-to-back winners in IPL history
Patidar’s comments came with the backdrop of IPL history, where only two captains have managed to win consecutive titles. Mahendra Singh Dhoni achieved the feat for Chennai Super Kings in 2010 and 2011, and later Rohit Sharma did the same for Mumbai Indians in 2019 and 2020. If Patidar lifts the trophy tomorrow, he would join that rare list of back-to-back champions.
However, he refused to get carried away by the milestone. Patidar said he doesn’t dwell on what others have done before him and isn’t trying to compete with anyone’s legacy. Instead, he framed the mindset as purely present-focused—“I live in the moment”—with attention fixed on the next game.
The scheduling also plays into the conversation. The first qualifier took place on Tuesday, meaning RCB have enjoyed a full four days to recover. Gujarat Titans, though, have been in action again since then, playing on Friday night when they beat Rajasthan Royals.
Asked whether RCB’s additional rest gives them a meaningful edge, Patidar agreed that it helps. He pointed out that time to rest and recover is an advantage, but he also tempered expectations by noting that GT are arriving from Qualifier 2 and both sides remain very strong. In his view, the difference in preparation time is real, yet not large enough to decide the final on its own.
