Royal Challengers Bengaluru, the defending champions, have received a fitness boost ahead of their Friday league match against Sunrisers Hyderabad, with director of cricket Mo Bobat confirming that captain Rajat Patidar is available after missing the previous outing. Patidar was sidelined for the game versus Punjab Kings in Dharamsala after he suffered a head knock when he was struck during batting against Kolkata Knight Riders in Raipur. Speaking at the pre-match press conference on the eve of the SRH clash, Bobat said the decision to be cautious had paid off and that the skipper is now ready to take part.
“Rajat’s good to go. We were cautious and didn’t take any risks with him. We thought we’d give him a little bit longer to recover and rest, but he’s here, he’s practising, and he’s good to go,” Bobat said. The comments underline how RCB have managed Patidar’s return to action, opting for an extended recovery window after the impact, before bringing him back into full training ahead of the next fixture.
Bogat also highlighted the role of senior pace bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who is currently leading the wicket charts with the Purple Cap, having taken 24 wickets across 13 innings. Bobat described his strike-rate impact and consistency as key to RCB’s balance in the bowling attack, praising not only the number of wickets but also the quality of his spells. “Bhuvi has been brilliant. His outcomes have been excellent; he’s taken a lot of wickets, but he’s also bowled with excellent rhythm. He’s been effective at the front end of the innings and also the back end, so we’re very pleased with how he’s going,” he said.
Beyond the on-field output, Bobat pointed to Bhuvneshwar’s influence within the team environment, noting that the experience he brings helps younger players handle pressure scenarios. “He talks well in meetings, he’s a good source of insight and ideas in the field under pressure. He can be a great support to Rajat and Jitesh as well, which is really important. We get huge value out of him because he gives us so much,” Bobat added.
With the playoffs drawing closer, Bobat stressed the importance of maintaining mental discipline and not getting carried away by momentum, results, or the stage of the tournament. He urged the group to keep the focus narrow—treating each match as its own challenge—regardless of venue or previous form. “It sounds like a bit of a cliché, but we just try and take one game at a time. Whether we’re home or away, it doesn’t really matter to us. We try and understand the conditions, respect the opposition, plan for them, and then focus on what we’re good at and try to do that as well as we can,” he said.
Continuing the theme, Bobat suggested there is no special formula beyond preparation and execution, particularly across the league phase. “And then you repeat that for every group game, really, so I don’t know if there’s a code or a secret. It’s pleasing that we’ve been consistent. We’ve obviously won a number of games, and even the games that we haven’t won, we’ve been competitive, so that’s good. We feel in a good place about that, but we simply do that by concentrating on the next game,” he added.
As for the contest against SRH, Bobat acknowledged the threat posed by a top-quality opponent, while also reminding RCB not to lean on past records. “All the teams in this competition are good sides, there are dangerous players in every team, and anyone can take the game away from you, so you have to be very humble and respectful of the opposition, but also clear on your own strengths. We’re not too bound by any history or records; we’re just concentrating on the game tomorrow night,” he concluded.
