Royal Challengers Bengaluru captain Rajat Patidar has credited Virat Kohli’s steadfast backing for providing the ultimate confidence to lead the franchise to consecutive Indian Premier League titles.
When Faf du Plessis departed ahead of the 2025 season, Kohli declined to reclaim the leadership role. Instead, he told Patidar he had “earned the right” to take charge. That endorsement culminated in RCB defeating Gujarat Titans on 31 May 2026 to secure their second successive championship.
Kohli Endorses New Leadership
The transition elevated Patidar into an elite group alongside MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma. Speaking to Sports Launchpad, he revealed the significance of his predecessor’s faith.
“If your idol backs you, then you don’t need anything more. You don’t need anyone else’s support. I used to notice everything about him when he batted. From what he did on the ground to what his routine was off the field. Later, I came to know he backed me a lot, including when it came to captaincy,” Patidar said.
Managing High Franchise Expectations
Taking charge of a demanding fanbase carried immense pressure, even as the organisation expanded its year-round commercial blueprints. Patidar embraced the challenge, frequently neutralising opposition attacks that relied on an all-spin gamble in the middle overs.
“It is not easy to hand someone the RCB captaincy, considering the fans and the expectations. He must have seen something in me. I don’t know what, but I have received a lot of support from him in the team, as a player and as a captain. He always backed me,” Patidar added.
The skipper finished the 2026 campaign with 501 runs.
