"Don't Need Anyone Else": Rajat Patidar's Stunning Virat Kohli Revelation After Getting RCB Captaincy
Rajat Patidar opened up on how Virat Kohli supported Royal Challengers Bengaluru's decision to make him the captain.
- Rajat Patidar revealed how Virat Kohli supported him after he was appointed as RCB captain
- "If your idol backs you, then you don't need anyone else's support," Patidar said
- "I came to know he (Kohli) backed me a lot, including when it came to captaincy," Patidar revealed
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB)'s decision to appoint Rajat Patidar as captain after the IPL 2025 mega auction came as a surprise to many. Patidar had only recently started captaining his domestic side, and would have to handle personalities like Virat Kohli in the dressing room. However, Kohli - undoubtedly the greatest figure in RCB's history - backed Patidar's appointment as captain right from the start. The move has paid dividends, with Patidar leading RCB to their first IPL title in 2025, and then going back-to-back in 2026.
In a recent interview, Patidar revealed what it meant to him to have Kohli's support, describing the RCB talisman as his "idol".
"If your idol backs you, then you don't need anything more. You don't need anyone else's support," Patidar said in an interview with Sports Launchpad, as quoted by Hindustan Times.
"I used to notice everything about him when he batted. From what he did on the ground to what his routine was off the field. Later, I came to know he backed me a lot, including when it came to captaincy," Patidar revealed.
"It is not easy to hand someone the RCB captaincy, considering the fans and the expectations. He must have seen something in me. I don't know what, but I have received a lot of support from him in the team, as a player and as a captain," Patidar elaborated.
Under Patidar's captaincy, RCB ended their 18-year wait for the IPL title, achieving glory in IPL 2025 with a win over Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the final.
In IPL 2026, RCB were arguably more dominant, sweeping aside Gujarat Titans (GT) in both Qualifier 1 and the final to lift their second consecutive title.
The successes of 2025 and 2026 has put the current RCB crop among conversations of being the greatest-ever IPL team. They'll be aiming to become the first team to win three titles in a row in 2027.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru
Virat Kohli