Rajat Patidar, the newly-appointed captain of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), is stepping into a significant leadership role with an open mind and a willingness to learn. Taking over from Faf du Plessis, Patidar has acknowledged the immense responsibility of captaining an IPL side and expressed his intent to seek guidance from none other than Virat Kohli, the franchise’s most iconic figure.
At a press conference on Thursday, Rajat Patidar emphasized the importance of backing his players and fostering a supportive team environment. “I’m not overly expressive, but I understand match situations well. I believe in standing by my players in all circumstances and creating an atmosphere where they feel relaxed and confident,” he stated.
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Patidar is aware that captaining a high-profile team like RCB comes with challenges, but he is confident in the leadership group surrounding him. “We have experienced players whose insights will be invaluable for me. Learning from one of the best, like Virat Kohli, is a tremendous opportunity. I’ve shared numerous batting partnerships with him, and our understanding on the field will only strengthen,” he added.
His appointment as captain was not entirely unexpected. The 31-year-old had discussions with RCB’s Director of Cricket, Mo Bobat, about leadership aspirations before the IPL auction. However, Patidar wanted to gain experience leading his state team, Madhya Pradesh, before taking up the RCB captaincy. He captained MP in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy, preparing himself for this new challenge.
“When Mo asked if I was interested in captaincy, I told him I’d first like to lead my state team. So, when I later learned that either Virat or I could be captain, I was thrilled,” Rajat Patidar revealed.
RCB head coach Andy Flower shed light on the discussions surrounding the captaincy transition. According to Flower, Virat Kohli displayed remarkable integrity and maturity during their talks. “Virat’s energy and enthusiasm for this IPL season stood out. He deeply respects Rajat as a player and a person, and their partnership will be crucial,” he said.
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Flower also highlighted Kohli’s supportive role last season, especially when RCB struggled early in the campaign. “The way he stood by Faf and the team increased my respect for him. His involvement in leadership discussions was invaluable,” he added.
While RCB could have pursued established captains like KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, or Shreyas Iyer during the auction, Flower explained that their focus was on team balance rather than acquiring a leader from outside.
“We trusted our internal leadership options. Even if we hadn’t recruited externally, we were happy with Rajat and Virat as captaincy choices,” he clarified. Reflecting on the auction, Flower expressed satisfaction with RCB’s overall strategy and acquisitions. “We were pleased with our picks. There was never any pressure to chase big names solely for captaincy,” he concluded.
As Patidar gears up for his debut season as captain, all eyes will be on how he leads RCB with the guidance of Kohli and the support of a strong leadership core.
