RCB’s New Captain Rajat Patidar Explains How His Captaincy Differs from Virat Kohli’s
Rajat Patidar opens up about his leadership approach and how it sets him apart from Virat Kohli as RCB’s new captain.
Rajat Patidar is set to take on a new challenge as the captain of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the upcoming IPL 2025 season. With this role, he has the opportunity to learn from Virat Kohli, one of the most experienced leaders in the game. While Patidar acknowledges Kohli’s influence, he also emphasized that his leadership style will be different.
A Learning Opportunity from Virat Kohli
Patidar, who has been with RCB since 2021, expressed his excitement about leading the franchise and learning from Kohli. The Madhya Pradesh batter highlighted that Kohli’s experience and guidance would be invaluable in shaping his own approach to captaincy.
“It’s a great opportunity to learn from one of the best in cricket, Virat Kohli. His experience and ideas will definitely help me with this leadership role. I’m lucky to learn from one of the best,” Patidar said at an event in Bengaluru.
A Different Leadership Approach
While Kohli is known for his aggressive and animated style on the field, Patidar described himself as a more composed leader. He emphasized his focus on backing his players and creating a comfortable environment for them.
“I really feel good right now. If I talk about my way of captaincy, I’m not very expressive, but it’s important I back my players and stand with them. So, they feel relaxed and competitive,” Patidar added.
He also mentioned that while he would lead with his own instincts, he would not hesitate to seek guidance from experienced leaders within the team.
“It’s good to have this group of leaders who can help me grow personally as well. I am not looking back; I’m looking forward. We have a lot of experienced players and experienced leaders. My way of captaincy is different. So, I will back my instincts. I will also seek help from others,” he explained.
Rajat Patidar’s Leadership Experience
Patidar has prior captaincy experience, having led Madhya Pradesh in domestic tournaments like the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy. In the 2023-24 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, he guided his team to the final, where they finished as runners-up to Mumbai. He was also the tournament’s second-highest run-scorer, amassing 428 runs in 10 matches at an average of 61 and a strike rate of 186.08.
The right-handed batter made his IPL debut in 2021 and has played 27 matches so far, scoring 799 runs at a strike rate of around 159.
Virat Kohli’s Captaincy Legacy
Kohli, who led RCB from 2013 to 2021, remains one of the longest-serving captains in IPL history. Under his leadership, RCB played 143 matches, winning 68 and losing 70, with four matches ending without a result. His most memorable season came in 2016 when he led the team to the IPL final while setting a record for most runs in a single IPL season (973).
