Rajat Patidar opens up on Virat Kohli’s immense backing and their special bond
Rajat Patidar's captaincy marks a golden chapter for Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Under his leadership, RCB not only won their maiden IPL title but also successfully defended it the following season. The defending champions will now step out aiming for a hat-trick of titles. RCB, having yearned for the trophy for 18 years, has now become a two-time champion, and Virat Kohli played a pivotal role in this success—a fact acknowledged by Captain Rajat Patidar himself.
He recently spoke openly about Kohli's role in his growth as the RCB captain, stating that having the support of his idol meant he needed nothing else. Patidar was appointed RCB captain ahead of the IPL 2025 season and led the team to victory that year; by defeating Punjab Kings, he ended the franchise's 18-year wait for a championship.
Subsequently, he led RCB to a second consecutive IPL title by defeating Gujarat Titans by five wickets at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on June 2, 2026. With this victory, Patidar became the third captain in IPL history to win back-to-back titles, joining an elite group that already included MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma. Patidar noted that he had closely observed Kohli for years, making Kohli's support for his appointment as captain deeply meaningful to him. He said in an interview;
"If your idol supports you, you don't need anything else. You don't need anyone else's backing. When he used to bat, I would observe everything about him—from what he did on the field to his routine off the field. Later, I learned that he had strongly supported me, including regarding the captaincy."
Patidar considers Virat Kohli his idol. Knowing that the person he admired so deeply had actively backed him for the RCB captaincy meant a great deal to him. RCB retained Patidar for ₹11 crore ahead of the 2025 season. Given the franchise's passionate fan base and the long wait for a trophy, there were high expectations attached to his appointment as captain.
Rajat Patidar not only justified that trust through his captaincy responsibilities but also contributed significantly with the bat. He was the team's second-highest run-scorer in IPL 2026, amassing 501 runs at a staggering strike rate of 192.69. He played an aggressive role in the middle order, turning the tide of matches during the middle overs and making it easier for the team to score against spinners. What has Patidar said about Kohli's role within the RCB setup?
Beyond his appointment as captain, Patidar has acknowledged Kohli's immense support in his overall development as both a player and a leader at RCB. He admitted that Kohli likely saw something in him—even if he himself wasn't entirely sure what that specific quality was. Patidar said,
"Handing over the RCB captaincy to someone is not easy, considering the fans and the expectations involved. They must have seen something in me. I don't know what it was, but I have received immense support from them—both as a player and as the captain."
