In a moment that captured the emotional core of RCB’s historic IPL 2025 triumph, Virat Kohli shared a deeply heartfelt tribute to newly appointed skipper Rajat Patidar in the team’s dressing room. The franchise, long starved of silverware, finally lifted their maiden IPL title after a thrilling six-run win over Punjab Kings in Ahmedabad—and Kohli’s words to Patidar reflected the pride and admiration of a senior statesman witnessing the rise of a remarkable leader.
“What a turnaround. Injury replacement to IPL-winning captain. Bloody hell. That’s a turnaround!” VIrat Kohli exclaimed in a now-viral video shared by RCB. In a symbolic gesture, Kohli gifted one of his own bats to Patidar, who responded with a humble kiss to the willow—a touching sign of respect between generations.
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Patidar’s story with RCB has been nothing short of inspirational. First signed in 2021, he was released after a lacklustre season, only to return as an injury replacement for Luvnith Sisodia in 2022. His defining moment came that year in the Eliminator, where he blasted a sensational century against Lucknow Super Giants, cementing his reputation as a dependable spin-basher.
“I’m going to feel the real side of it when we get to Bengaluru tomorrow and celebrate this with the city” – Virat Kohli ❤️🙌
King Kohli walks into the dressing room with ABD, talks about Rajat’s leadership, Jitesh’s smartness, and the team coming together to achieve this… pic.twitter.com/aqLY7LHvvE
— Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) June 4, 2025
Though injury cut short his 2023 campaign, Patidar bounced back with 395 runs in 2024 and was handed the captaincy for the 2025 season following the departure of Faf du Plessis. Under his calm leadership, RCB looked a rejuvenated side.
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Head coach Andy Flower was full of praise for the 31-year-old’s maturity. “As an inexperienced captain, the most impressive thing is how unaffected he’s been. His calmness brought stability to the group,” Flower told ESPNcricinfo. “He’s still the same gentle, polite Rajat we knew. Captaincy hasn’t changed who he is.”
Patidar capped off a memorable campaign with 312 runs at a strike rate of 143.77—figures that reflect not just his ability but also his growing stature as a leader.
