Royal Challengers Bengaluru have hit a rich vein of form in the IPL 2026, sitting near the summit of the standings after collecting six victories from their first eight matches. The defending champions are second in the table and look well-balanced across batting, bowling and fielding as they move closer to another playoff berth.
Much of the shift has been traced back to Rajat Patidar’s captaincy, which began in IPL 2025. Since taking over the reins, RCB’s performance has noticeably improved, culminating last season in a landmark achievement: Patidar led the franchise to an IPL title—something no RCB skipper before him had managed, a list that includes Virat Kohli, Faf du Plessis, Rahul Dravid and Anil Kumble.
Shaun Pollock lauded Patidar’s impact, calling him the standout captain RCB has seen. He pointed out that in Patidar’s very first year as skipper, he guided the team to the trophy, and suggested that the current season already looks set for a similar outcome. Pollock also noted that inheriting a franchise with a long wait for success and then delivering at such a high level makes the case that Patidar is steering RCB toward another strong campaign.
Pollock further emphasised the momentum Bengaluru now carry—saying that with the way results have shaped up this year, it would be difficult to imagine RCB missing the playoffs again. In his view, Patidar’s leadership has him positioned as a benchmark figure within the franchise’s captaincy history.
The growing reputation of Patidar’s captaincy has also drawn attention from outside the RCB dressing room. Recently, Punjab Kings skipper Iyer was asked in an interview on Star Sports which captain he would most like to learn from. His answer surprised many as he named Rajat Patidar, leaving out other high-profile options such as MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma.
How Patidar leads: praise from within the camp
RCB’s batting coach and mentor Dinesh Karthik has also spoken glowingly about Patidar’s approach. Karthik highlighted that Patidar’s leadership style is characterised by calm decision-making and clear thinking during matches. He said the skipper commands strong respect inside the team and, importantly, manages his bowlers with composure.
Karthik added that Patidar stays steady when games are at their most stressful and benefits from helpful support around him. He pointed to guidance from Jitesh Sharma and the benefit of inputs from senior names including Virat Kohli, Josh Hazlewood, Krunal Pandya and Bhuvneshwar Kumar.
According to Karthik, Patidar’s straightforward nature shows up on the field as well—he remains composed, makes decisive calls, and is capable of handling high-pressure phases effectively. Karthik’s overall message was that Patidar’s temperament and clarity are central to how RCB are performing this season.
