Rajat Patidar has opened up about the crucial role Virat Kohli played in his development as Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) captain, revealing that the support of his childhood idol gave him enormous confidence. Patidar was appointed RCB captain ahead of the IPL 2025 season and immediately delivered by guiding the franchise to its first-ever IPL title.

RCB defeated Punjab Kings in the 2025 final to end their long wait for silverware. Patidar then achieved another remarkable milestone in 2026, leading RCB to a second consecutive IPL title after a five-wicket victory over Gujarat Titans at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on June 2.

The achievement made Patidar only the third captain in IPL history to win consecutive titles, joining the elite company of MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma. Speaking about Kohli’s influence, Patidar revealed how closely he had followed his idol throughout his career and how significant it was to discover that Kohli had backed him for the RCB captaincy.

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“If your idol backs you, then you don’t need anything more. You don’t need anyone else’s support. I used to notice everything about him when he batted. From what he did on the ground to what his routine was off the field. Later, I came to know he backed me a lot, including when it came to captaincy,” Rajat Patidar said in an interview with Sports Launchpad, as quoted by NDTV.

Patidar was retained by RCB for Rs 11 crore ahead of the 2025 season, with his appointment as captain carrying significant expectations. He repaid that faith with consistent performances and strong leadership, helping the franchise establish itself as one of the IPL’s dominant teams.

The RCB skipper also made a major contribution with the bat during the 2026 campaign. He finished as the team’s second-highest run-scorer, accumulating 501 runs at an impressive strike rate of 192.69. His ability to attack spin during the middle overs proved particularly valuable for RCB.

Patidar also acknowledged that Kohli’s support went beyond the captaincy decision and contributed to his overall growth within the franchise.

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“It is not easy to hand someone the RCB captaincy, considering the fans and the expectations. He must have seen something in me. I don’t know what, but I have received a lot of support from him in the team, as a player and as a captain,” Rajat Patidar said. With Kohli continuing to play an influential role at RCB, Patidar’s comments highlight the importance of that relationship in his rapid rise as a successful IPL captain.