Rajat Patidar credits Virat Kohli for RCB captaincy success

Rajat Patidar has credited Virat Kohli for providing the confidence necessary to lead Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) to consecutive Indian Premier League (IPL) titles. Patidar, who was appointed captain ahead of the 2025 season following the release of Faf du Plessis, noted that Kohli’s support was a decisive factor in his transition to leadership.

Patidar described Kohli as his idol, stating, “If your idol backs you, then you don’t need anything more.” He revealed that the RCB management consulted Kohli regarding the captaincy, and Kohli strongly supported the Madhya Pradesh batter based on his batting performance and observed leadership qualities in the dressing room.

Under Patidar’s leadership, RCB ended an 18-year championship drought by winning the 2025 IPL title against the Punjab Kings. The franchise secured a second consecutive title in 2026 by defeating the Gujarat Titans. Patidar became only the third captain in IPL history to achieve back-to-back titles, joining MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma. During the 2026 season, Patidar contributed significantly as a batter, scoring 501 runs with a strike rate of 192.69.