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STUMP VISION JUNE 12, 2026 | The Indian Eye 46

IPL 2026

The 77% Solution: How Rajat Patidar

Solved the IPL’s Hardest Equation

Some captains inherit dynasties. Rajat Patidar inherited 18 years of baggage and
turned it into a winning formula

ARCHAN MEHTA

s Royal Challengers Bengalu-
ru prepare for a second con-
Asecutive IPL final, the spot-
light naturally drifts towards Virat
Kohli’s enduring brilliance, Tim Da-
vid’s finishing power, or Bhuvnesh-
war Kumar’s control with the ball. Yet
the defining story of this RCB revival
belongs to a soft-spoken batter from
Indore who has quietly reshaped both
himself and the franchise. Patidar’s
rise from an unsold player in the 2022
auction to the captain of the IPL’s
most consistent team is not simply a Perhaps the most worrying aspect is the uncertain future of India’s younger batters like Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Tilak Varma (ANI file photo)
tale of resilience; it is a story of techni-
cal evolution, leadership maturity and gears dramatically, highlighted by his knockouts. Yet the next challenge ar- mation. For years, the franchise re-
structural transformation. 68-ball Ranji Trophy hundred against rived quickly. An Achilles injury ruled volved around individual brilliance.
Patidar’s cricket journey began far Haryana. By the time he led Madhya him out of the entire 2023 season and Today, it thrives on structure. Kohli
from the glamour of the IPL. Raised Pradesh to its historic Ranji Trophy threatened to halt his momentum. Re- remains central, but he is no longer
in a financially secure family in Indore, triumph in 2022, he had already built habilitation, however, became another carrying the weight alone. The batting
cricket was a choice rather than an a game sophisticated enough for the chapter of growth. He returned stron- has depth, the bowling has discipline
economic necessity. Interestingly, he highest level. ger in 2024, and by 2025 RCB had and the leadership has stability. Pati-
started out as an off-spinner before Ironically, his IPL breakthrough handed him one of the most scrutinised dar has become the bridge between
former India batter Amay Khurasi- arrived only after rejection. His first jobs in franchise cricket: captaincy. RCB’s emotional past and its method-
ya identified qualities that would de- season with RCB in 2021 yielded just When RCB handed Patidar the ical present.
fine his future: exceptional hand-eye 71 runs and resulted in his release. captaincy in 2025, replacing high-pro- His record reflects that shift. With
coordination, balance at the crease Worse followed when he went unsold file leaders like Virat Kohli and Faf du 21 wins in 31 matches, Patidar’s 77
and a naturally fluent bat swing. The in the 2022 mega auction. For many Plessis, skepticism was inevitable. But percent win rate is the highest among
decision to convert him into a bat- players, that would have been the end Patidar’s strength lay in clarity rather IPL captains with more than one sea-
ter proved to be a turning point, not of the road. Instead, fate intervened than celebrity. Working closely with son in charge. More importantly, he
only for Patidar but also for Madhya when an injury to Luvnith Sisodia Andy Flower, Mo Bobat and Dinesh has turned RCB from perennial enter-
Pradesh cricket. opened a replacement slot at RCB. Karthik, he built a collaborative cul- tainers into serial contenders.
Domestic cricket became the Patidar, reportedly preparing for his ture that ended RCB’s 18-year title The remarkable part isn’t that
foundation of his growth. Across a wedding, accepted the late call-up and drought. Simultaneously, his batting Rajat Patidar changed RCB. It’s that
first-class career worth more than altered the trajectory of his career. evolved into a formidable weapon, he did it so quietly that the rest of the
5,400 runs at an average approaching The response was immediate. His producing 486 runs at a strike rate of IPL only noticed after the blueprint
46, Patidar developed a rare versatility. unbeaten 112 against Lucknow Super nearly 197 this season, highlighted by was already complete.
He could grind attacks down over long Giants in the 2022 Eliminator remains a stunning 93* off 33 balls against Gu-
innings, evidenced by a double centu- one of the most iconic playoff innings jarat Titans in Qualifier 1. Archan Mehta is a writer dedicated
ry against Punjab without a single six, in IPL history, making him the first un- That innings against GT also to telling compelling stories about
while also possessing the ability to shift capped player to score a century in the symbolised RCB’s larger transfor- athletes, teams, and the world of cricket

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