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Rajat Patidar stands just one victory away from achieving a monumental feat in IPL history, putting him on the verge of joining the elite company of MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma as the only captains to successfully defend an IPL title. Despite the historic weight of the occasion, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru skipper remains grounded, emphasizing that he wants to carve out his own path as a leader rather than trying to replicate the style of anyone else.
Even if I'm a captain, it doesn't mean I have to do anything different: Rajat Patidar
The calm and composed leader already etched his name into franchise folklore by guiding RCB to their long-awaited, maiden IPL trophy during the 2025 season. Now, Patidar and his squad need to overcome the Gujarat Titans this Sunday to secure their second consecutive championship and firmly establish a new era of dominance.
"Every captain wants to win trophies. But I never change myself because it's important to be yourself. That's what I've focused on. Even if I'm a captain, it doesn't mean I have to do anything different," Patidar said in the pre-match press conference.
Patidar made it clear that he is not focused on competing with past captains or measuring himself against their legendary achievements. He emphasized that personal milestones are secondary, as his sole objective remains entirely on guiding RCB to yet another championship victory.
"So, I've never thought about what a captain has done before and whether I want to compete with someone or not. As an individual, my journey has been a rollercoaster ride Wherever I live, I focus on what I can do best. I've never thought about moving forward or going back. If I'm here, I'm just focussing on what I can do before the final, and tomorrow is the final, so we'll try to give our best," he further stated.
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'There are a lot of experienced players, from whom I'm getting a lot of good ideas'
The 32-year-old shared that he has benefited immensely from the wealth of experience surrounding him, actively learning from the senior figures in the RCB dugout. In particular, he credited the presence of veteran stalwarts like Virat Kohli and Bhuvneshwar Kumar for aiding his growth and development as a leader.
"There are a lot of learnings, especially off the field and on the field, there are a lot of helping hands. There are a lot of experienced players, from whom I'm getting a lot of good ideas. So, I'm trying to understand those ideas and apply them to the game," he added.
Patidar shared that he also finds deep satisfaction in another crucial aspect of the leadership role, which is mentoring and guiding the younger players in the team. He enjoys the responsibility of helping them develop, ensuring they feel supported as they navigate the pressures of high-stakes tournament cricket.
"I always like to spend time with them. I always try to tell them that it's important to be yourself. I was there in this situation in 2021. I was looking at the senior players. There was anxiety and nervousness. So, I keep telling them the same thing. You don't need to look at who is standing in front of you. You are here because you deserve it. Focus on your strength rather than focussing more on what is not in your control," he signed off.
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