RCB captain Rajat Patidar gives a success mantra to his teammates ahead of IPL 2026 final vs GT

Rajat Patidar is just a win away from becoming the third IPL skipper to win consecutive titles. MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma are the two captains who have successfully defended the title, but the Royal Challengers Bengaluru captain wants to create his own legacy instead of following someone else. RCB won the IPL title in 2025 under Patidar’s captaincy, and now they need to go past the Gujarat Titans’ challenge to lift the trophy for the second time in a row.

“Every captain wants to win the trophies, but I don’t want to change myself. I have always focused on this. I don’t want to do anything different just because I am a captain,” Patidar said in the pre-match presser on Saturday.

Patidar is not competing with any captain when it comes to achievements, and his focus is on taking his franchise to another title.

“I am not thinking about what a captain has done in the past and whether I want to compete with someone. My journey has seen ups and downs. I want to focus on what I can do best for my team,” he added.

“I am not thinking about moving forward or going back. I am focusing on what I can do before the final. We will give our best in the final,” he mentioned.

The 32-year-old is learning from Virat Kohli and Bhuvneshwar Kumar.

“You can learn a lot off the field and on the field. There are a lot of experienced players in the side. I am getting good suggestions from the players. I am trying to understand the inputs and apply them.”

He credited Andy Flower and Mo Bobat for giving him freedom. “The management has been helpful, and they never force me. They know me as an individual. Even the senior players are aware of me. There is backing from the management and the teammates. Being in my zone is also helping me,” he explained.

Patidar is also enjoying helping the young players.

“I like spending time with the young players. I tell them the importance of being yourself. I have been through this situation in 2021, and I was looking at the senior players for experience.”

“I tell them the same thing. You don’t have to look at others. You are playing because you deserve it. Focus on your strengths and what is in your control.”

Rajat Patidar is not thinking about representing India and leading the national side in T20Is. “I am not thinking about playing and leading Team India in T20Is,” he concluded.