Before becoming captain of Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Rajat Patidar casually told a friend he might lead the side to an IPL title. His childhood friend Abhishek Pathrod recalled Patidar saying he could become captain and help RCB win. Patidar has since guided the team to consecutive championships following years of near misses. The franchise offered him the role at the end of the 2024 season despite his lack of prior domestic captaincy experience. Patidar took time to reflect before accepting. He first led Madhya Pradesh in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy, learning through experience. Pathrod noted that Patidar weighed the decision carefully and only agreed after testing himself at state level. Patidar also contributed significantly with the bat. Former teammate Ishwar Pandey praised his dedication to practice and credited coach Amey Khurasiya for his development. Khurasiya began mentoring Patidar during an under-14 camp, emphasizing discipline and repetition. Patidar followed drills precisely and improved his shot selection and length judgment. Observers noted his mental focus during key innings, including an unbeaten 93 in Qualifier 1. Friends described his consistent calmness and preference for living in the present. Patidar has progressed from uncertainty about leadership to delivering results for the franchise.
