Rajat Patidar has made such a rapid impact that he is now being spoken about in the same rare company as IPL legends MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma, after he helped Royal Challengers Bengaluru lift their second league title on Sunday. Patidar became only the third skipper in IPL history to steer a franchise to back-to-back championships, joining Dhoni and Rohit in a feat that is as uncommon as it is celebrated. Dhoni achieved consecutive triumphs in 2010 and 2011, while Rohit did it in 2019 and 2020.
Patidar’s rise has been just as striking as the milestone itself. After making his India debut in 2024 through a Test series against England that he would want to forget, he later transformed his fortunes in the IPL. Brought into RCB as an injury replacement, he soon evolved from a stand-in option into the heartbeat of the side—ending a title drought and pushing the team to heights it had not previously reached. And while trophies are the headline, it is his leadership that has drawn the sharpest attention, with former BCCI selector Saba Karim pointing to parallels between Patidar’s approach and the leadership styles of Dhoni and Rohit during their prime years.
Why RCB’s leadership stood out
Karim highlighted the role clarity inside the squad as a key ingredient behind RCB’s second straight title win. He said Patidar’s contributions go beyond match days, stressing that the captain’s journey—from coming in as a replacement to eventually taking charge—made his credibility in a dressing room packed with elite names, including Virat Kohli, all the more impressive.
“One of the biggest reasons behind RCB winning a second consecutive title has been the clarity around individual roles within the team, and Rajat Patidar deserves a lot of credit for that. If you look at his journey, he came in as a replacement player and eventually became the captain. For someone without international experience, earning respect in a dressing room filled with world-class players, including Virat Kohli, is not easy,” Karim said on Star Sports’ ‘Amul Cricket Live on JioStar’.
Karim also credited Patidar for growing into influence as he settled into the XI. As his performances became consistent, he developed into a player who could shape the team’s identity, including how RCB built and sustained a strong bowling unit. He added that Patidar’s captaincy shows the same kind of decisiveness seen in skippers who have delivered consecutive trophies, with Dhoni and Rohit serving as the natural reference points.
“Rajat earned that respect through consistent performances. Once he established himself, he became instrumental in shaping this side. He has played a major role in building a strong bowling unit. I also see a lot of clarity in his captaincy. When we talk about captains who have led teams to consecutive titles, names like MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma come up, and I can see similarities in the way Rajat Patidar leads this team,” Karim added.
Bangar’s take on RCB’s breakthrough
Sanjay Bangar, who worked as RCB’s batting coach before later taking on the head coach role, is one of the many who had long hoped the franchise would finally end its prolonged wait for silverware. He said he was delighted to see RCB move from near-misses to sustained momentum, describing the shift as a combination of timing, squad balance, and the experience now present in the group.
“RCB always looked capable of making this kind of impact, but they had to wait a long time for it. They were consistently reaching the playoffs and finals, but once they tasted success and found a group of players who complemented each other well, things started to fall into place. What stands out about this RCB side is the experience it possesses,” Bangar said.
Bangar underlined that most of RCB’s players have spent time in international cricket, which he believes gives the squad an “international team” feel in terms of temperament and composure. In his view, that maturity becomes especially valuable when matches tighten and pressure rises, and he suggested that the confidence gained from success can carry teams into an even bigger stretch of dominance.
“Most of the players have played international cricket, so in many ways it resembles an international team in terms of its make-up. That experience and temperament become invaluable in pressure situations. Success breeds confidence, and RCB have now multiplied that success. Who knows, this could be the start of a decade where they go on to win a few more titles,” he added.
