Rajat Patidar, the new captain of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), has received the support of Virat Kohli, who believes he would "lead you guys for a long time." Last month, Patidar, one of RCB's three retentions before to the November mega-auction, was introduced as the replacement for Faf du Plessis.
At RCB Unbox, which took place in Bengaluru on Monday to reveal the team's 2025 roster, Kohli declared, "He [Patidar] is an amazing talent." "We all know that he is a fantastic player, but he also has a sharp mind and will lead this incredible club to success. He possesses all the necessary items.
The next captain is Patidar, who was first considered for the position following the 2024 Indian Premier League. Patidar was given the leadership of Madhya Pradesh prior to joining the RCB, and he guided the squad to the 2024–25 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy final late last year. With 428 runs in nine innings at a strike rate of 186.08, Patidar's individual contribution to the campaign was outstanding. He had the second-most sixes in the competition with 27.
Speaking in front of a thunderous crowd, Patidar talked about finding inspiration in the greats of the past. Chris Gayle, AB de Villiers, and Virat bhai are among the legends who have played for RCB. I watched them growing up. I have adored the franchise since the beginning. I am pleased that I have been given the opportunity to lead one of the top T20 cricket teams.
Patidar's first season as an uncapped player in 2021 gave him the chance to play with De Villiers, who thinks the 31-year-old may experience both positive and negative effects from being captain. Additionally, he thinks Patidar will be able to forge his own style rather than attempting to imitate former captains like du Plessis or Kohli.
Taking on the large shoes of captains like Faf and Virat, Patidar's toughest obstacle will be insecurity," de Villiers stated at a JioStar-hosted press conference. Living with Virat around and continuously questioning whether you're making the correct decision? How would Virat respond? That, in my opinion, will be his largest challenge. Utilize Virat's and [head coach] Andy Flower's experiences, but never compromise on your identity.
Flower highlighted three attributes that he believed led them to select Patidar as captain during last month's captaincy announcement.
The first is that, in my opinion, Rajat has a calmness and simplicity that will make him an excellent captain and leader, especially in the IPL," Flower had stated. Rajat's natural calm and straightforward manner will come in very handy throughout the chaos of that competition.
The second thing I would say about him is that, although he is a naturally quiet person, it is clear from watching him that he cares about the people in his immediate vicinity, including the guys he plays with and shares a dressing room with. And that, in my opinion, is a trait that indicates that he will immediately get the respect and consideration of others. Having those attributes is crucial for a leader. People will rally behind you and follow you in this way.
After that, the third thing that strikes me about him is that he has a steeliness, strength, and tenacity. You can see it in the way he plays, but I've personally witnessed it when I've tried to coach him in the nets and he refuses to listen. You can see how courageously he plays the game, and I believe that trait will be crucial for him to get through the highs and lows.