Rajat Patidar Shares Virat Kohli’s Inspiring First Words to Him
Rajat Patidar’s rise to captaincy of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) for IPL 2025 is a story of resilience and determination. After facing disappointment at the 2022 IPL mega auction, where he was not selected despite reassurances from the team management, Patidar’s journey took a turn when he was called up as a replacement player. In an interview on the RCB Podcast, he reflected on the emotional experience of receiving the captaincy plaque from Virat Kohli, emphasizing the support he feels from the veteran player as he steps into this leadership role.
Patidar’s initial feelings of rejection stemmed from the 2022 mega auction, where he had hoped to be picked by RCB but ultimately was not. “I was a little sad,” he admitted, sharing how he was initially disheartened by the news. However, his fortunes changed when he was later brought on as a replacement for an injured player. Despite his doubts about his chances of playing, he embraced the opportunity. “I didn’t want to come as a replacement because I knew that I wouldn’t get a chance to play there,” he explained, showing his determination to succeed despite setbacks.
The announcement of Patidar as the new captain was unexpected, particularly given the presence of established stars like Kohli on the team. He acknowledged the weight of this responsibility, stating that he had concerns about leading such a high-profile squad. However, he reassured fans that Kohli’s support has been instrumental in easing those worries. “I have his full support,” Patidar expressed, viewing this as a chance to learn and grow under Kohli’s guidance, who has extensive experience in both batting and captaincy.
The moment Patidar received the captaincy plaque from Kohli was particularly memorable for him. “When he was giving it to me, I didn’t know how to react,” he recalled. Kohli’s words, “You deserve it, you earned it,” served to calm his nerves and solidify his belief in his capabilities. This season, Patidar has shown his leadership skills by leading RCB to an impressive record of 8 wins out of 11 matches, while also contributing significantly with 239 runs in the middle order. His recent experience as captain of Madhya Pradesh, where he led the team to the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy final, further attests to his readiness for this new challenge.
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