Ahead of clash against DC today, RCB pacer Josh says captain Rajat has taken momentum to another level since leading team to title last year
RCB skipper Rajat Patidar during a nets session at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Friday. Pics/PTI
When Royal Challengers Bengaluru began their quest for Faf du Plessis’s replacement as skipper after IPL 2024, a long, arduous process might have appeared on their cards. But the search was short, swift and rapid, ending with the slight, unlikely figure of Rajat Patidar.
The right-hander from Madhya Pradesh ticked most boxes – he was experienced, calm and composed, a terrific stroke-maker with decent IPL pedigree including a century in the 2022 playoffs, and well respected within the group. If there was one ‘minus’, it was that he didn’t have a great body of captaincy work.
The RCB leadership group didn’t consider that a major issue, and their faith was justified when, in his first season in charge, he steered the Bengaluru franchise to their maiden title at the 18th attempt. With every passing game, he imposed his style on his team; success proved to be a wonderful catalyst in his progression as a leader, and that has manifested itself in some of the most outstanding stroke-production this season.
Josh Hazlewood
Patidar has shown himself to be adept at taking the bull by the horns. Last Sunday against Mumbai Indians, Patidar promoted himself to No. 3 on the back of a strong Phil Salt-Virat Kohli foundation and justified the elevation with a 17-ball half-century. He has been a force of nature all season, sitting on 222 runs after five innings at a staggering strike-rate of 213.46 and with more sixes (21) than even Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (18).
He has also masterminded a sensational campaign by the defending champions, who have had the bit between the teeth from the time they bested Sunrisers Hyderabad in the tournament opener three weeks back. “He just kept getting better and better and more confident in himself [as captain], and this year he’s just picked up from there,” acknowledged Josh Hazlewood, RCB’s standout Australian pacer. “He’s a pretty calm character out there, which is nice for me. His batting’s been unbelievable; he’s walked in and taken the momentum to another level.”
Comfortably perched at the second spot with four wins from five outings, RCB take on Delhi Capitals in the first of their two 3.30 pm games on Saturday at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, confident of pulling away from the chasing pack. Prodigal son KL Rahul, whose unbeaten 93 powered DC to a six-wicket win in the corresponding fixture last year, will entertain other ideas, but count Patidar — and RCB — out at your own peril.
222
No. of runs scored by Rajat Patidar in five IPL matches — the fourth highest this year
14
No. of wins for RCB since Rajat Patidar became captain across 18 matches
213.46
Rajat Patidar’s strike-rate in IPL 2026 — the fifth highest
21
No. of sixes hit by Rajat Patidar this year — the most so far
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