Royal Challengers Bengaluru captain Rajat Patidar has underlined his growing credentials for India with another standout IPL campaign, mixing calm leadership with big-match batting. Appointed as RCB skipper ahead of IPL 2025, Patidar steered the franchise to its first-ever title after an 18-year wait. This season, he helped the team reach its second consecutive final and also raised his own output with the bat, putting his name back in the conversation for national selection.
Across 14 matches, Patidar has amassed 486 runs at an average of 44.18 while striking at 196.76. One of his most eye-catching innings came in Qualifier 1 against Gujarat Titans, when he smashed a 33-ball 93 that swung momentum at a crucial stage of the tournament. Those performances have come alongside a captaincy style that has brought a steady rhythm to Bengaluru’s dressing room over the last two seasons.
Asked about the possibility of being picked for India’s T20I squad, Patidar offered a firm, no-nonsense reply on the eve of the IPL 2026 final. He said, “The answer to your first question is I’m not looking forward to any selection regarding India. So, I’m not looking forward to it.”
RCB aim to repeat the title win in Ahmedabad
- RCB, led by Patidar, face Gujarat Titans with the opportunity to lift a second consecutive IPL trophy.
- The final is set to be played in Ahmedabad on Sunday, with Bengaluru looking to maintain the momentum that carried them through the playoffs.
- On paper, the reigning champions start as clear favourites against the 2022 winners, largely because of the aggressive, high-risk approach RCB have shown throughout the season.
- That fearless style has occasionally put them under pressure, but it has also helped them pile on runs with regularity.
- Key contributions have come from a mix of established names and match-winners, including Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Tim David, captain Rajat Patidar, Phil Salt when available, and Venkatesh Iyer.
- For Bengaluru, the strategy has remained remarkably consistent regardless of pitch conditions or the type of bowling they face—pressing the attack and keeping the scoreboard moving in a single, dominant mode.
- No other side in the current IPL has managed to breach the 200-run mark as frequently as RCB, underlining how often their batting plans convert into big totals.
Patidar’s temperament as a captain has also been a major factor in the team’s stability. While he may not carry the same loud, headline-grabbing presence as former leaders like Virat Kohli or Faf du Plessis, the 32-year-old’s assured management has helped both senior stars and newer entrants settle into roles with confidence.
With Bengaluru’s batting philosophy and Patidar’s steady hand set against a Gujarat Titans side capable of absorbing pressure, the final promises a contrast in styles—one side built to attack relentlessly, the other tasked with holding its nerve. RCB will need to find a way to control Titans on the day if they are to make it back-to-back titles in Ahmedabad.
