Rajat Patidar Shares How Virat Kohli Supported His Captaincy Journey with RCB
Rajat Patidar, the captain of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), recently opened up about how former captain Virat Kohli played a crucial role in helping him embrace his new leadership position as they head into IPL 2025. After Faf du Plessis was released just before the mega auction, Patidar stepped up to lead the team but felt the weight of expectations on his shoulders.
In a discussion on the RCB podcast, the 26-year-old expressed that being the captain alongside a player like Kohli brought its own set of challenges, but Kohli’s encouraging words made a significant difference. Kohli reassured Patidar that he had rightfully earned the role, which allowed him to take on the responsibility with more confidence.
Patidar recalled, "I’ve been watching him (Kohli) on TV for years, and now he’s giving me the captaincy plaque that he has cherished. When he handed it over, I felt a bit lost, unsure of what to do next. But then he said, ‘You deserve it, you earned it.’ That really helped me relax." He also appreciated how Kohli introduced him to fans, making it a special moment in his journey.
Under Patidar’s leadership, RCB is having one of its most successful campaigns yet, currently sitting second on the points table with 16 points from 11 matches. While he has faced ups and downs with his bat—scoring 239 runs so far—his skills as a leader have been impressive.
Before this IPL season, Patidar had some experience in leadership, captaining Madhya Pradesh in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. However, captaining RCB marks his biggest challenge yet. As the IPL resumes on May 17, Bengaluru is gearing up for three vital matches—starting with a home game against the Kolkata Knight Riders—where every game will be crucial for their playoff hopes.
