IPL 2026 | 'Player earns the respect of his teammates when he performs...': Anil Kumble on Rajat Patidar

Rajat Patidar, Anil Kumble (Pic: X/@RCBTweets/File Pic)

Anil Kumble Rajat Patidar praiseIn the IPL 2026 match against Gujarat Titans (GT), Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) emerged victorious by 92 runs at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamshala.

During the match, RCB's skipper Rajat Patidar led from the front and delivered a stunning knock. Facing just 33 deliveries, the right-handed batsman smashed an unbeaten 93 runs, laced with five boundaries and nine maximums.

Speaking about his knock, former Team India cricketer Anil Kumble said that a player earns respect when he delivers a performance in a big match, and their skipper has done exactly that.

"A player earns the respect of his teammates when he performs in the big game. Rajat Patidar has done exactly that. This first qualifier was a massive game for RCB. Winning the first qualifier and going straight to the final gives you a huge advantage. Three or four days off allows players to recover mentally and physically. That is a luxury of winning the first qualifier. Rajat has done a terrific job as captain," he said on Star Sports.

Later in the second essay of the game, all of the RCB's bowlers managed to pick up wickets, except for Romario Shepherd, who bowled just one over. The former cricketer said that there was no over-reliance on one or two individuals, and that is the hallmark of a team that knows how to win big matches.

"What stands out about RCB is that different players step up in different games. Every match, a new player wins the Man of the Match award. That is exactly what happened last season when they won the title. When everyone contributes, you become a champion team. In this game against GT, every bowler took wickets. There was no over-reliance on one or two individuals. The batting fired, the bowling was disciplined, and the fielding was sharp. That is the hallmark of a side that knows how to win big games," added Kumble.

IPL 2026, Final match: Date and venue

Following the victory, the Royal Challengers have sealed the final berth of the marquee event. The title clash of the tournament is scheduled to be played on May 31 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.