Rajat Patidar insists he is not treating Sunday’s IPL 2026 final as a moment that could define his career, nor is he letting speculation about T20I selection or India’s captaincy disturb his focus. In Ahmedabad, ahead of Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s training session, the RCB batter framed his approach in a simpler way: he is there to soak up the occasion that the franchise has earned through hard work, and to make sure his own performance matches the level required on the biggest stage.
“I’ve never really thought about what other captains have done before, or whether I want to measure myself against someone,” Patidar said. “Individually, my journey has had its ups and downs, but I’ve never been fixated on [captaincy or legacy].”
He added that his mindset is deliberately present-focused. “Wherever I am, I concentrate on what I can do best in that moment. I don’t spend too much time thinking about what’s coming next or what might have been in the past. Right now, the focus is on giving our best in the final.”
Even with no obvious need to prove a point—after RCB’s title win in 2025, his debut season as captain—Patidar said he continues to look for lessons from every match. For him, leadership is not a destination but a practice ground, especially with a squad that blends experience and emerging talent.
“It’s a great chance for me to learn from so many experienced players,” he said. “At the same time, I haven’t tried to reinvent myself. It matters to stay true to who you are. Just because you are captain doesn’t mean you have to become someone else. The management has played a big role as well—they’ve never forced me to change into a different version of myself.”
Patidar believes that clarity and trust have helped him settle into the role. “They understand what kind of person I am, and the senior players do too. I’ve received strong backing from both the management and the senior group, so I haven’t really had to deal with problems. I’m just staying in my comfort zone, and that’s been helping me.”
When the conversation drifted—unsurprisingly—toward possible national-team pathways, Patidar still kept his answer straightforward. Asked directly about ideas of an India call-up, including the role of T20 captain, he did not entertain the speculation for even a second.
“I haven’t pictured myself as India’s T20 captain,” he said, before bringing the subject back to RCB and the IPL. “But every captain wants to win trophies. We won one last year, yet this is a fresh season. You can’t keep talking about what happened in 2025. You need to stay in the present and focus on what you can do now to deliver another title.”
RCB, in last year’s final, had gone in with uncertainty as much as confidence—there was excitement in the dressing room, along with genuine anticipation. Patidar was asked whether that experience of handling big-match pressure has altered their outlook heading into this decider.
“Honestly, I don’t think we’ve changed much,” he said. “Our mindset is still the same. We’re not approaching it like we’re defending champions, and we don’t treat it as something we already won in 2025. It’s a new season, a new opportunity. Our mindset is that we’re here to win another title.”
One of Patidar’s recurring themes through the long tournament has been empowering the younger players—helping them build confidence and encouraging independent thinking rather than relying on fear or imitation. He spoke from personal experience about what it feels like to be star-struck when you’re still establishing yourself, recalling that he had that kind of anxiety when he first broke through in 2021.
“I always try to spend time with them,” he said. “I tell them it’s important to be yourself and trust your strengths. I’ve been in that situation too. In 2021, I used to look at the senior players and there was naturally some nervousness. What I tell them is that they don’t need to worry about who is standing in front of them, or who is in the dressing room. They are here because they deserve to be here. Focus on your strengths, focus on what you can control—that’s the main message.”
Among the younger group, Patidar singled out Rasikh Dar for special praise. He has impressed most as the bowler who has stepped in superbly to cover for the absence created by Yash Dayal. Patidar noted that Rasikh is RCB’s second-highest wicket-taker this season with 16 wickets.
“When you’ve got bowlers like Bhuvi and Hazlewood, you still need support from the rest of the attack,” Patidar explained. “The way Rasikh has come in and provided breakthroughs has been very important. You can’t win matches or tournaments relying on just one or two bowlers. He’s bowled superbly across the competition and helped ensure the workload isn’t landing only on a couple of players. It’s been a genuine team effort.”
Patidar also returned, again and again, to the ideas of responsibility and mindset when describing RCB’s resurgence over recent years. The numbers underline the turnaround: the side has reached five playoffs in six seasons. For him, that momentum is not luck—it is shared ownership across roles and moments.
“My observation is that every player now takes responsibility, whether it’s with the bat or the ball,” he said. “Responsibility is probably the key word. Each individual is keen to contribute and do something for the team. The other thing is the mindset as well—we’re not here just to qualify for the playoffs.”
He concluded by stressing the shift from merely competing to actually aiming at the ultimate prize. “We’re here to play finals and win finals. I think that mindset has changed the most.”
