‘Rajat Patidar’s captaincy a mixture of Virat Kohli & MS Dhoni’ | Cricket Information

RCB captain Rajat Patidar in motion throughout their match towards Mumbai Indians. (PTI)

Trolls went giddy with delight after Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) introduced Rajat Patidar as their new captain. “Patidar can hardly handle to play a season with out getting injured. Will he deal with himself or the group?” they mockingly reacted. The choice to nominate Patidar additionally drew combined reactions from the RCB followers who had been wanting ahead to Virat Kohli returning because the franchise’s captain. Whereas the batter had displayed streaks of brilliance for RCB, there have been questions marks relating to his potential to deal with the magnitude of the position, contemplating the burden of expectations from the franchise.
Nonetheless, the 32-year-old cricketer has delivered a becoming response to his critics, changing RCB right into a rock-solid franchise. The identical group which crumbled on the slightest of stress has reworked right into a dominant facet that will get the job achieved in a composed method. RCB are presently third on the factors desk following 4 wins in six matches. Patidar has led from the entrance, backing his teammates by way of thick and skinny.
“His captaincy type is a combination of MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli. Patidar stays calm however is aggressive on the similar time when it comes to his intent and starvation to win. RCB are enjoying with lots of positivity this season. Patidar has at all times been extraordinarily eager to be taught and makes an attempt to know as a lot as doable in each state of affairs. His captaincy abilities had been additionally witnessed through the 2024/25 version of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT), the place Madhya Pradesh reached the match’s remaining. Patidar is extraordinarily mature and assured as a captain,” stated former Madhya Pradesh batter Devendra Bundela throughout an unique interplay with TimesofIndia.com.
Patidar’s childhood coach Amay Khurasiya hailed the 32-year-old cricketer’s utmost focus and work ethics, highlighting his full dedication in the direction of cricket.
“The brand new mind on this planet is focus and when you’ve got focus, then you could have this gargantuan benefit which I felt he had as a result of he was fairly clear together with his focus and work ethics. Patidar can be fairly aggressive internally and an excellent thinker of the sport. The questions that come to you while you work on a participant’s method set the requirements of his pondering. Patidar grabs the utmost out of you together with his mind,” stated Khurasiya.
The RCB captain has suffered his justifiable share of setbacks over time, battling a number of accidents.
“See, there’s something in each participant which is a participant’s personal method of bouncing again. So while you’re down and out, what’s your metamorphosis? That’s the place you are outlined. That is the place Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant had been outlined. That is the place Virat Kohli is outlined. If you find yourself dealing with a disaster, discovering a chance within the disaster is a really robust particular person name,” stated Khurasiya.
“If you’re smashed for a six or hit by a bouncer in your head, you must stand up and nonetheless face these 11 people who find themselves arising towards you. That is the place I believe Patidar has bounced again fairly often. There are setbacks and there are comebacks. He has pulled off lots of comebacks with accidents and likewise by way of setbacks,” he added.
Patidar’s childhood good friend Abhishek Pathrod termed the cricketer’s endurance as his greatest weapon in overcoming obstacles.
“He executes each single side in probably the most applicable method after pondering issues by way of. Rajat suffered accidents at essential intervals. Folks used to maintain asking him, ‘When will you get match?’. He would calmly reply, ‘Therapeutic and restoration will take its personal time, which I am unable to change’. Self-discipline has additional been a key consider his progress and improvement,” he acknowledged.

RCB head coach Andy Flower apparently remarked that his group’s captain has a sure sense of stubbornness in his character. “I’ve seen it myself after I’m making an attempt to teach Patidar within the nets and he will not hearken to me,” stated Flower.
“That’s one thing referred to as confidence in life. I will not say he is adamant or cussed. Upon getting lots of self-belief and confidence in what you are doing, then you definately are likely to ignore lots of recommendation which you are feeling would not fit your recreation. That’s the place your job begins because the coach. It’s a must to suppose forward and make the participant perceive why a selected factor is essential,” acknowledged Khurasiya, sharing his perspective.
The Kerala cricket group head coach backed RCB to win their maiden IPL title underneath Patidar’s captaincy.
“I believe RCB will win the IPL underneath Patidar. It is going to occur possibly this yr or subsequent yr however I believe it ought to occur for them. Virat Kohli’s IPL trophy cupboard is empty. He want to have this cupboard filled with IPL trophies as nicely,” he stated.
“There are two nice mates or weapons, you’ll be able to say, about people. One is endurance, different is time. Patidar has each of them. Then, I imagine within the third one which is the profoundness that you must get into that dimension the place time is your good friend. If you get into the zone is when success begins coming to you. The third dimension is a philosophical one, however it’s a crucial one,” added Khurasiya.