Rajat Patidar is not done yet, he wants RCB to script IPL hat-trick history

Rajat Patidar said he wants to help Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) achieve an unprecedented hat-trick of IPL titles. On Sunday, RCB successfully defended their crown with a five-wicket victory over Gujarat Titans in the IPL 2026 final, joining Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians as the only teams to win back-to-back titles.

While CSK and MI have won five IPL trophies each, no franchise has ever won three consecutive titles. Patidar now hopes to lead RCB to this historic milestone and take the franchise to even greater heights. The RCB captain lifted his second IPL trophy on the eve of his 33rd birthday.

“It’s a great feeling and it’s a special birthday present for me. I couldn’t have asked for a better present. Even though I’m excited about the achievement, I always try to stay focused on the present. We won in 2025 and again in 2026 and we will definitely celebrate that achievement. But our focus will soon shift to how we can make it three titles in a row,” Patidar said after the conference.

“IN 2025 MORE PRESSURES”

Until 2024, RCB had not won a single IPL title and were often regarded as one of the biggest underachievers in the tournament’s history, despite having some of the world’s best players in their ranks.

That changed in 2025 when Rajat Patidar led the franchise to its first IPL crown by defeating Punjab Kings in the final. RCB then successfully defended the title in 2026, cementing their status as one of the dominant teams in the league.

Patidar said the team felt less pressure in 2026 because of how they performed throughout the tournament. He added that his calm leadership style combined with strong support from the management and his teammates played a vital role in RCB’s successful title defence.

“To be honest, compared to this year, there was a lot more pressure in 2025. This season was a lot calmer because of the way we played throughout the tournament. Not only did we play well, but we dominated. That gave us confidence that if we continue to perform at this level, we will win the second title for RCB,” said Patidar.

“My style of captaincy is different. I am not very expressive, but I am always aware of the game situation. At the same time, it was extremely important to have the support of the management and the players. Their support gave me a lot of confidence throughout the campaign,” added Patidar.

Patidar not only impressed with his captaincy but also contributed significantly with the bat. In 15 matches, he scored 501 runs at an average of 41.75 and a strike rate of 192.69, including an incredible 93 off just 33 balls against the Titans in Qualifier 1.

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Issued by:

sabyasachi chowdhury

Published on:

01 Jun 2026 12:23 IST