Flowing hair, folded arms and an unreadable stare. Rajat Patidar has become the face of a calmer, more assured RCB era, one that finally ended the franchise’s 18-year wait for an IPL title. | Photo Credit: Emmanual Yogini

Two things immediately strike you when you watch Rajat Patidar marshalling his troops on the cricket field. First, of course, is the flowing mane and its cascading curls, tinted with an amber hue. Patidar promptly explains that he began nurturing it long before the ‘Dhurandhar’ effect.

For the relief (or dismay) of all the young adults embroiled in a perennial struggle at home about growing out their hair, being the captain of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru does not absolve you of the tedious process. “Even now, when I go home, my mom, dad and grandpa ask when I’m going to cut my hair. No matter how old you are, you’re always a kid to your parents,” a smiling Patidar says.

The second is his almost-perfect poker face and zen-like attitude on the pitch. Are the bowlers being carted around the ground, or has the top order collapsed early? The skipper remains expressionless, or at least his facial expressions and body language suggest so. When the franchise approached Patidar to take over from the departing Faf du Plessis, this was one trait the batter wanted to preserve. “I am calm. I am not that expressive. You can’t read anything out of my face. As an individual, I can’t let go of my strengths. You perform best when you align with them,” he explains.

Show of faith

Patidar does not mind admitting that he was riddled with self-doubt when RCB first hinted at handing him the captaincy. After all, he had played just one full IPL season.

But that majestic hundred in the 2022 Eliminator, followed by a breakout 2024 season in which he scored almost 400 runs at a strike rate of 177.13, had shown the franchise enough.

An Rs. 11-crore retention and the captaincy followed in 2025. No prizes for guessing what happened at the end of that campaign.

“Doubts were recurring until I eventually finished the first season as the captain. There were thoughts about how it’ll go and how I will handle these big players. I did not have answers for these,” he concedes during an exclusive interaction with Sportstar.

Imagine taking over a team previously led by Rahul Dravid, Anil Kumble and, for what felt like an eternity, Virat Kohli. No pressure.

“It was crucial not to copy any of the predecessors. But there was one thing I was very influenced by from du Plessis: how he spoke to and gave importance to each player. He was confident; his body language conveyed authority on the ground,” the Madhya Pradesh batter says.

Another influential figure in the 32-year-old’s career is celebrated coach and former international cricketer Chandrakant Pandit. He says the basics of his captaincy stemmed from spending time with the multi-time Ranji Trophy-winning coach.

“Chandu sir taught me how meticulously you can prepare for a cricket game, how deeply you can study it. He has played for 20 years and then coached for another 20. His tactical strength was eye-opening for me,” he says.

Engraving your mark

The RCB franchise enjoys the kind of popularity very few other teams have managed in the T20 showpiece. Yet, despite the exponential brand growth, fans were repeatedly left disappointed when it came to success on the pitch.

That 18-year wait finally ended when Patidar lifted the famed trophy after beating a strong Punjab Kings side in Ahmedabad last year.

“Fans have expectations because it is such a big franchise. There was additional pressure because we hadn’t won for 18 years. But in that situation, I kept telling myself that I should focus on what I can control. We have a group of experienced players, and I got a lot of help from them,” he says.

“I didn’t think much about the future [during the Playoffs]. I knew that if we played the final, it meant we had done a lot of things right throughout the competition. All we had to do was repeat that on the field,” he adds.

Creating the perfect storm

There was a marked difference in RCB’s team composition ahead of the title-winning season. When the names rolled onto the screen at the end of the mega auction, experts and fans alike believed the squad finally had the perfect mix: batters and bowlers, domestic and overseas players, experience and youth.

For the first time in a while, the franchise appeared to have the resources to go the distance. Patidar, however, believes that was only half the job done.

“First day, everyone was asking what RCB was doing? The team is not picking anybody. When the picking was done on day two, you can see that we knew what kind of roles we needed. But execution is important. If that hadn’t gone to plan, then the team wouldn’t look that good,” he says.

The RCB skipper also underlined the importance of the captain and team management being aligned for a side to truly flourish. He says he learned a great deal about cricket from head coach Andy Flower and director of cricket Mo Bobat. The domestic experience of mentor Dinesh Karthik, spin-bowling coach Malolan Rangarajan and bowling coach Omkar Salvi makes it a well-rounded support staff, he adds.

The Bengaluru-based franchise was among the earliest to tap into the ever-expanding world of data analytics, which Patidar says has now become constant across every level of cricket, from domestic to international.

“It plays an important role irrespective of the format. A bowler should know in and out about the batter, his hitting zones, his preferred length, etc. But that only tells us a story. We should be flexible to make decisions based on his form on the day and the conditions on offer,” the captain says.

The IPL has also seen a sharp rise in players being signed directly after strong performances in State leagues, sometimes even before making their domestic debuts. Patidar believes this direct pathway is crucial in the shortest format.

“When there were no leagues around, only 10-15 players were playing domestic cricket, and often it was the same set of players playing across formats. There are so many players in India waiting for a chance in T20s. Leagues give these deserving individuals a chance to show their talent. To bring these players up, we need to increase the number of matches they play,” Patidar reckons.

“I try to involve them as much as possible during practice sessions. We need to ensure they don’t stray from what brought them to this level,” he adds.

The batting evolution

Since 2024, among Indian batters who have played at least 15 IPL games, Patidar has the fourth-highest strike rate (169.75). The three names above him, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Abhishek Sharma and Priyansh Arya, are opening batters who benefit from field restrictions for six overs.

The RCB No. 4 says he has always batted briskly, but outlined the work he put in to elevate his T20 game to its current level.

“My batting was of the multi-day mould while growing up, but I still had a good strike rate in this format. I have been able to get that clarity on how to bat across formats. I worked on my T20 game and tried to add to my strengths. The shots I can play now are because I have been practising them for years. People say I play spin very well, but I actually enjoy playing pace more,” he says.

But how does one attain that clarity? According to Patidar, there is no substitute for experience.

“Very few players manage to dominate T20s and then change themselves according to the Test format. That only happens when you have a deep understanding of the format. You have to use the net sessions in between according to the demands of the format,” the middle-order batter says.

He also underlined the importance of the Indian domestic system, which “tests the player in every way”, in shaping all-format cricketers.

The India dream?

For most cricketers, wearing the Indian jersey is the ultimate dream. Their first steps with the ball in hand, or the first tap of the bat on the ground, begin with the hope of one day winning a game for the country.

Through the ups and downs the sport inevitably brings, the glimmer of hope of donning the jersey again is often what keeps them going.

Patidar, however, appears cut from a different cloth.

“I have never really thought of playing for the country. My focus has been on controlling the controllables. The rest is not in my hands. Even when I make runs, and I don’t get picked, I have no complaints. I am satisfied wherever I am,” the batter says.

This maturity in thought, too, came with age, he explains.

“When you’re young, everyone wants to know why they weren’t picked for the team. But after a while, it is important to see what is necessary for you. Cricket is a part of life, but it is not life in its entirety. For me, I should bat well and score runs for my team. The rest I have no control over,” he adds.

In an era characterised by cut-throat competition and constant pressure, Patidar offers a refreshing, more measured perspective on cricket and life. He might be a Ranji Trophy champion, an IPL-winning captain and a cricketer who has represented India in the toughest format of the game. But he does not mind admitting that he is just another human being juggling priorities and trying to remain content.

(Stats as of May 16)

Rapid fire with Rajat

If you can swap a skill with any of your teammates, what would it be, and what’s the skill?

Nothing, I wouldn’t want to swap anything.

Someone who is too energetic for your liking and you’d like to mute?

Jitesh Sharma.

One bowler who keeps you up at night?

Jasprit Bumrah and Sunil Narine.

Pick a walkout song for yourself.

“Rocky Walks Up the Stairs” track from KGF.

A movie you go back to regularly?

I am not really a movie guy.

What is the most valuable thing you’ve broken or lost?

Nothing yet.

Most famous contact on your phone?

Faf du Plessis.

One thing you love and dislike about Virat Kohli?

I like his energy. There is nothing I don’t like. He’s my idol.

If you can add/change one rule in cricket, what would it be?

Remove the Impact Player rule.

What’s your biggest non-sports dream?

A big family and a very nice house. That’s it.

A song that you go back to regularly?

90s Bollywood music and sometimes even Kishore Kumar songs.

Published on May 22, 2026