Patidar on RCB’s encore: ‘We didn’t just play but we dominated’
A Birthday Celebration to Remember
As the clock struck 1am in Ahmedabad on Monday morning, the atmosphere in the press conference room was electric. Rajat Patidar, the man of the hour, walked in with the IPL trophy in his arms and a wide, genuine smile across his face. It was his 33rd birthday, and there could hardly be a more fitting or magnificent gift than successfully defending the championship title.
For a cricketer who typically maintains a stoic and reserved demeanor, the sheer joy was evident. His occasional glances toward the trophy underscored the immense satisfaction of a leader who has steered the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) to back-to-back glory. When asked about his state of mind, Patidar remarked, ‘I’m feeling great… it’s a great feeling. It’s my birthday. There can’t be a better gift than this. The individual that I am, I always focus on living in the present. We have won back-to-back, we’ll celebrate but the focus will be how we can now do this three in a row. When you win trophies, you don’t look at individual performances. Nothing is bigger than this.’
Defining the Difference: Pressure vs. Dominance
Comparing the two title runs, Patidar noted a distinct shift in the team’s identity. While the initial victory was a high-pressure environment, the 2026 season felt like a statement of pure superiority. ‘Last year was a lot of pressure,’ he admitted. ‘This year I was more calm. The way we played through the tournament, we didn’t just play but we dominated. I was confident if we played like this, we could win the second title for RCB.’
Patidar emphasized that his leadership style, while not overly expressive, remains deeply connected to the nuances of match situations. He credited the RCB management and his teammates for providing the unwavering backing necessary to maintain such a high standard of play.
Technical Mastery and Leadership Evolution
A significant portion of Patidar’s success this season can be attributed to his rigorous off-season preparation. By compartmentalizing his roles as both a premier batter and the team captain, he found a rhythm that resulted in 501 runs at an impressive strike rate of 192.69. This was not accidental; he spent countless hours at the nets, working closely with legend Dinesh Karthik to refine his trigger movements and technical fundamentals.
‘I took a lot of learnings as captain and batter,’ Patidar explained. ‘I look at how much time I give myself to bat, I spent a lot of time at the nets before the season… just me and the bowlers. There was a lot of communication with DK bhai, regarding my technical adjustments. As captain, I learnt a lot from Faf du Plessis, how he presents himself, how his body language is always confident.’
The Unsung Heroes Behind the Scenes
Patidar was quick to redirect the praise toward his coaching staff, specifically bowling coach Omkar Salvi. Often working away from the limelight, Salvi’s influence on the squad’s younger talent, including breakout star Rasikh Salam—who claimed 19 wickets this season—was described as instrumental. ‘I’ve seen Omkar Salvi sir from my first Ranji season in 2015,’ Patidar noted. ‘He spends a lot of time one-on-one with every bowler. He spends time one-on-one with the bowlers, doing the hard work that doesn’t always make it into the meeting room.’
Furthermore, he lauded head coach Andy Flower, describing him as one of the best mentors he has encountered. Patidar highlighted Flower’s inclusive approach, noting that the coach dedicates equal time and attention to fringe players and newcomers, effectively shifting the team’s entire internal culture.
A Moment of Reflection
Despite the celebrations, the tone shifted momentarily when Patidar addressed the tragedy that marred the celebrations after their first title win last year—the tragic loss of fans in a stampede outside the Chinnaswamy Stadium. In a moment of quiet grace, Patidar dedicated the current triumph to those families. ‘You feel bad obviously, you lost your fans after winning the game… not fans, family members, so I want to dedicate this trophy to them. No words to express.’ With this second title, RCB has cemented its place in history, looking ahead with renewed hunger for a three-peat.
