Fresh off guiding Royal Challengers Bengaluru to consecutive IPL titles, Rajat Patidar is now set to take charge of JKC Sports-owned Gwalior Cheetahs in the Madhya Pradesh League (MPL) T20. Patidar’s new assignment comes after the franchise reached the semifinals in 2025, only to fall agonisingly short of a spot in the final. Gwalior Cheetahs will kick off their 2026 campaign in the opening fixture of the season, taking on Ujjain Falcons on Wednesday at Holkar Stadium in Indore.
The Cheetahs are expected to start the new season with a well-rounded group, combining experienced players with emerging young talent. One of the key names in the squad is Mangesh Yadav, who finished as the leading wicket-taker in the 2025 edition with 14 scalps. The team will also be backed by the coaching direction of head coach Aditya Srivastava, whose leadership as captain helped Madhya Pradesh break a 69-year drought to claim the Ranji Trophy title in 2022.
Patidar’s rise and leadership style have also drawn praise from inside the IPL setup. Dinesh Karthik, RCB’s batting coach and mentor, described the captain as a “calm captain” and credited that approach for the side’s success in defending the IPL crown. RCB secured the 2026 title by beating Gujarat Titans (GT) in the final on Sunday.
Rajat Patidar etched his name in IPL history by becoming only the third captain to win back-to-back championships, following MS Dhoni (Chennai Super Kings) and Rohit Sharma (Mumbai Indians). In the title match, RCB first limited GT to 155/8 in the opening innings. They then chased down the target with five wickets in hand and with two overs remaining.
Speaking on JioHotstar, Karthik said Patidar brought steadiness to RCB’s high-energy dressing room. He suggested that the captain’s mindset had a direct impact on the bowlers, helping them handle pressure more effectively. Karthik also pointed to Patidar’s down-to-earth attitude, adding that Patidar appears to prefer being a “star” rather than a “superstar” despite leading a squad filled with well-known players.
“Rajat has been a huge calming influence in a dressing room that is high-octane and high testosterone. He keeps things very calm, and that’s so important. The bowlers thrive when you have a calm captain; it definitely helps under pressure. I think he likes to be a star, not a superstar. There are plenty of guys in that team who are big names and get the job done in high-pressure situations,” Karthik said.
