RCB Captain Rajat Patidar Opens Up: ‘Broken Promise’ Left Me Sad and Angry

Rajat Patidar, the current captain of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), recently shared his candid thoughts on his journey with the franchise, revealing a past filled with both disappointment and triumph.

A Bumpy Start

Speaking on an RCB podcast, Patidar admitted to feeling “sad” and “angry” in 2022 when the team didn’t pick him in the mega auction despite assurances he’d be part of the squad. He had even started playing local matches in Indore, assuming his time with RCB was over.

“I had got a message (ahead of the mega auction for IPL 2022) that you should be ready… that we will pick you. I had a little hope that I would get another chance (to play for RCB). But I wasn’t picked in the mega auction. I was a little sad,” Patidar shared.

He eventually joined RCB as a replacement for an injured player, Luvnith Sisodia. However, Patidar confessed he wasn’t enthusiastic about returning as a backup, knowing his chances of playing in a star-studded lineup were slim.

Kohli’s Support and Pressure

Leading RCB, a team anchored by the legendary Virat Kohli, naturally brought its own set of pressures. But Patidar found solace in Kohli’s unwavering support.

“I had a lot of questions like, there are so many (big players) in the team. Virat Kohli is such a big player, how will you do it under him. I know how supportive he is about this (captaincy change).

“I knew I have his full support. Like I said, this is a learning for me, it’s an opportunity for me. So, I will learn as much as I can from him. Because no one has the experience and ideas that he has in every role — be it batting, as an individual and as a captain,” Patidar revealed.

A Memorable Moment

The day Patidar officially became the RCB captain was a day he’ll never forget. He describes being “completely blank” when receiving the captaincy plaque from Kohli himself.

“To take that thing (captaincy plaque) that he has been doing for so many years… and he is giving it to me with his own hands. When he was giving it to me, I was a bit worried about how to take it. I was completely blank about what to do. He told me to hold it. I held it. After that, I was looking at him like, what should I do? Then he said a couple of words like, ‘you deserve it, you earned it’. So I felt a little bit okay. I mean when he said this to me then I became normal in that situation. I learn from him as much as possible. So I think that was a special moment… the way he introduced me to so many fans.”

A Stellar Season

This season, Patidar has emerged as a key player for RCB, consistently delivering impressive performances and contributing significantly to the team’s success.