Rajat Patidar insists he is not treating Sunday\u2019s IPL 2026 final as a moment that could define his career, nor is he letting speculation about T20I selection or India\u2019s captaincy disturb his focus. In Ahmedabad, ahead of Royal Challengers Bengaluru\u2019s training session, the RCB batter framed his approach in a simpler way: he is there to soak up the occasion that the franchise has earned through hard work, and to make sure his own performance matches the level required on the biggest stage.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve never really thought about what other captains have done before, or whether I want to measure myself against someone,\u201d Patidar said. \u201cIndividually, my journey has had its ups and downs, but I\u2019ve never been fixated on [captaincy or legacy].\u201d<\/p>\n
He added that his mindset is deliberately present-focused. \u201cWherever I am, I concentrate on what I can do best in that moment. I don\u2019t spend too much time thinking about what\u2019s coming next or what might have been in the past. Right now, the focus is on giving our best in the final.\u201d<\/p>\n
Even with no obvious need to prove a point\u2014after RCB\u2019s title win in 2025, his debut season as captain\u2014Patidar said he continues to look for lessons from every match. For him, leadership is not a destination but a practice ground, especially with a squad that blends experience and emerging talent.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a great chance for me to learn from so many experienced players,\u201d he said. \u201cAt the same time, I haven\u2019t tried to reinvent myself. It matters to stay true to who you are. Just because you are captain doesn\u2019t mean you have to become someone else. The management has played a big role as well\u2014they\u2019ve never forced me to change into a different version of myself.\u201d<\/p>\n
Patidar believes that clarity and trust have helped him settle into the role. \u201cThey understand what kind of person I am, and the senior players do too. I\u2019ve received strong backing from both the management and the senior group, so I haven\u2019t really had to deal with problems. I\u2019m just staying in my comfort zone, and that\u2019s been helping me.\u201d<\/p>\n
When the conversation drifted\u2014unsurprisingly\u2014toward possible national-team pathways, Patidar still kept his answer straightforward. Asked directly about ideas of an India call-up, including the role of T20 captain, he did not entertain the speculation for even a second.<\/p>\n
\u201cI haven\u2019t pictured myself as India\u2019s T20 captain,\u201d he said, before bringing the subject back to RCB and the IPL. \u201cBut every captain wants to win trophies. We won one last year, yet this is a fresh season. You can\u2019t keep talking about what happened in 2025. You need to stay in the present and focus on what you can do now to deliver another title.\u201d<\/p>\n
RCB, in last year\u2019s final, had gone in with uncertainty as much as confidence\u2014there was excitement in the dressing room, along with genuine anticipation. Patidar was asked whether that experience of handling big-match pressure has altered their outlook heading into this decider.<\/p>\n
\u201cHonestly, I don\u2019t think we\u2019ve changed much,\u201d he said. \u201cOur mindset is still the same. We\u2019re not approaching it like we\u2019re defending champions, and we don\u2019t treat it as something we already won in 2025. It\u2019s a new season, a new opportunity. Our mindset is that we\u2019re here to win another title.\u201d<\/p>\n
One of Patidar\u2019s recurring themes through the long tournament has been empowering the younger players\u2014helping them build confidence and encouraging independent thinking rather than relying on fear or imitation. He spoke from personal experience about what it feels like to be star-struck when you\u2019re still establishing yourself, recalling that he had that kind of anxiety when he first broke through in 2021.<\/p>\n
\u201cI always try to spend time with them,\u201d he said. \u201cI tell them it\u2019s important to be yourself and trust your strengths. I\u2019ve been in that situation too. In 2021, I used to look at the senior players and there was naturally some nervousness. What I tell them is that they don\u2019t need to worry about who is standing in front of them, or who is in the dressing room. They are here because they deserve to be here. Focus on your strengths, focus on what you can control\u2014that\u2019s the main message.\u201d<\/p>\n
Among the younger group, Patidar singled out Rasikh Dar for special praise. He has impressed most as the bowler who has stepped in superbly to cover for the absence created by Yash Dayal. Patidar noted that Rasikh is RCB\u2019s second-highest wicket-taker this season with 16 wickets.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen you\u2019ve got bowlers like Bhuvi and Hazlewood, you still need support from the rest of the attack,\u201d Patidar explained. \u201cThe way Rasikh has come in and provided breakthroughs has been very important. You can\u2019t win matches or tournaments relying on just one or two bowlers. He\u2019s bowled superbly across the competition and helped ensure the workload isn\u2019t landing only on a couple of players. It\u2019s been a genuine team effort.\u201d<\/p>\n
Patidar also returned, again and again, to the ideas of responsibility and mindset when describing RCB\u2019s resurgence over recent years. The numbers underline the turnaround: the side has reached five playoffs in six seasons. For him, that momentum is not luck\u2014it is shared ownership across roles and moments.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy observation is that every player now takes responsibility, whether it\u2019s with the bat or the ball,\u201d he said. \u201cResponsibility is probably the key word. Each individual is keen to contribute and do something for the team. The other thing is the mindset as well\u2014we\u2019re not here just to qualify for the playoffs.\u201d<\/p>\n
He concluded by stressing the shift from merely competing to actually aiming at the ultimate prize. \u201cWe\u2019re here to play finals and win finals. I think that mindset has changed the most.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Rajat Patidar insists he is not treating Sunday\u2019s IPL 2026 final as a moment that could define his career, nor is he letting speculation about…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":13278,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_yoast_wpseo_title":"IPL 2026 Final: Patidar Focuses on RCB Mindset in Ahmedabad","_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Ahead of the IPL 2026 final in Ahmedabad, Rajat Patidar says he\u2019s focused on RCB\u2019s hard-earned mindset and delivering his best performance under pressure.","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-13279","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ipl"],"yoast_head":"\n