Rajat Patidar scripted a remarkable follow-up to the last season’s triumph by becoming the third RCB captain after MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma to guide his side to consecutive Indian Premier League titles. Leading Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Patidar oversaw a five-wicket victory over Gujarat Titans at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday night, delivering the franchise a second straight crown.
During the trophy ceremony, Patidar looked visibly moved as he reflected on the unusual and inspiring path of captaincy he has experienced since 2024. “I never dreamt of becoming the captain of RCB and lifting the trophy. I think it was written [in his destiny]. Grateful for that,” he said.
The title match also took place in Ahmedabad in the 2025 season, and Patidar acknowledged how familiar the ground felt. “It feels superb. When we came here, there were a lot of memories of last year. I don’t have words to express, but this feels very good. It was a clear plan when we won the toss [that they wanted to bowl]. [They knew] It would be easy to chase. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Rasikh Salam, KP [Krunal Pandya], Suyash Sharma and Romario Shepherd, they bowled really well throughout the tournament,” he remarked.
Patidar added that breaking the jinx last season has given the squad a stronger sense of belief heading into the next campaign. “We were slightly more confident than last year. Everywhere it felt like a home ground for us with the fans coming in. The pre-tournament prep was very good,” he said.
Earlier in the tournament run-up, Patidar played a key role in RCB’s march to the final. He struck a brilliant 93 not out in the first qualifier against GT, a knock that helped his team secure a place in the summit clash on Tuesday.
Speaking about the improvements in his batting, Patidar credited careful analysis and guidance. “I tried to analyze which shots are good for me. I got so many inputs from DK [Dinesh Karthik], which were helpful for me,” he said.
The Kohli influence
Virat Kohli’s authority with the bat proved decisive in the final chase. Kohli remained unbeaten on 75 as RCB completed the chase of 156 with 12 balls remaining. Although RCB experienced a brief wobble while going after the target and Kohli also picked up a leg injury during the innings, it did not slow his resolve to see the job through.
Kohli sealed the game with a six off Arshad Khan to bring the chase to a close, and he celebrated with noticeable emotion. Patidar has repeatedly spoken this season about how Kohli has supported him behind the scenes, offering valuable help as he settled into leadership responsibilities.
This time, though, Patidar kept his tribute brief. “He [Virat Kohli] is always there for the team. [Addressing RCB fans in the stands] This one is for you again, RCB fans,” he concluded.
