Royal Challengers Bengaluru have stamped their place in IPL folklore by defending the championship they lifted in 2025, turning it into consecutive title triumphs. With the feat, RCB join a rare list of franchises that have managed back-to-back league glory, a group previously defined by Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings. For a team that long looked for a first trophy moment, the shift in fortune has been nothing short of striking.
A major storyline behind RCB’s run has been Rajat Patidar’s rise as captain. Going into the 2025 season, the franchise backed him with the leadership role even though he was still relatively untested at the very top tier of IPL captaincy. That call has since matured into a commanding captaincy partnership with the squad—Patidar has now steered two title-winning campaigns.
How Patidar changed the mindset
Patidar’s impact has shown up in both intent and temperament. He has led from the front with attacking batting, while also projecting composure when matches tighten. The result is a RCB side that looks fearless in high-pressure phases and more willing to take charge when the margins get thin. What started as a high-risk leadership bet has evolved into one of the franchise’s clearest success chapters.
Batting icon Sachin Tendulkar pointed to the team culture RCB built under Patidar as a key reason the success has stayed consistent. Tendulkar suggested the skipper did not only contribute through his own performances, but also created a setting where multiple players felt equipped to shoulder responsibility during the most critical stretches of the tournament. In other words, the captain’s influence extended beyond the scoreboard.
“Every successful team develops an identity over the course of a campaign,” Tendulkar wrote on Reddit. He argued that RCB’s character appeared rooted in shared accountability: Patidar led from the front, but he also helped ensure that others could step up in the same way. Tendulkar highlighted that this balance between direction and contribution was a meaningful ingredient in RCB reaching yet another final.
Quick facts
- RCB defended the title they won in 2025 to secure back-to-back championships.
- The franchise joined an exclusive group previously held by Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings.
- Rajat Patidar was appointed captain ahead of the 2025 season despite limited IPL leadership experience.
- Sachin Tendulkar credited Patidar’s leadership for building a strong team culture and shared responsibility.
- Punjab Kings began the season unbeaten in their first seven matches: six wins and one draw.
- Punjab Kings won only one match from their last seven league games, missing out on the playoffs.
Tendulkar on Punjab Kings’ campaign
Tendulkar also broke down Punjab Kings’ season trajectory. He noted that the side started with real momentum, remaining unbeaten in their first seven matches—finishing that phase with six wins and one draw. However, the pattern reversed as the tournament progressed, and their form dropped sharply in the second half of the league stage.
Punjab Kings managed just a single win from their final seven games, a slump that ultimately ruled them out of playoff contention. Tendulkar praised the franchise for bringing an aggressive, refreshing style of cricket to the competition, but he felt their campaign was derailed later by a noticeable change in mindset.
He added that Punjab Kings brought “wonderful energy” and played in a way that was positive, brave, and often capable of shifting games. Tendulkar then stressed the importance of process in long tournaments, arguing that the key is to stick to execution rather than become overly tied to outcomes. In his view, Punjab leaned more on process during the early portion, but gradually moved to chasing results as the season entered its decisive phase.
