Dinesh Karthik Praises Rajat Patidar's Leadership in RCB's IPL Victory

RCB's Triumph Under Rajat Patidar's Leadership

Ahmedabad (Gujarat) [India] - On June 1, Dinesh Karthik, the batting coach and mentor for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), commended Rajat Patidar for his composed leadership, which played a crucial role in the team's successful title defense against Gujarat Titans (GT) in the IPL 2026 final.

Patidar has now joined the ranks of MS Dhoni (Chennai Super Kings) and Rohit Sharma (Mumbai Indians) as one of the few captains to secure back-to-back IPL championships. Under his guidance, RCB managed to restrict GT to a score of 155/8 and chased down the target with five wickets in hand and two overs to spare.

During an interview on JioHotstar, Karthik emphasized Patidar's ability to maintain stability in RCB's high-pressure environment. He noted that Patidar's calm demeanor significantly enhanced the bowlers' performance during tense moments, and praised his modesty, stating that he prefers to be recognized as a 'star' rather than a 'superstar,' despite leading a team filled with prominent players.

“Rajat has been a tremendous calming presence in a high-energy dressing room. His ability to keep things steady is vital. Bowlers perform better with a composed captain, especially under pressure. He enjoys being a star rather than a superstar, which is important given the number of big names in the team,” Karthik remarked.

Patidar's leadership led RCB to nine victories out of 14 matches in the group stage of IPL 2026, culminating in wins during the Qualifier and the final. He also made significant contributions with the bat, amassing 501 runs in 14 innings at an impressive average of 41.75.

Karthik further noted that Patidar empowers senior players to take charge while leading quietly and focusing on the immediate needs of the game. “Rajat's only aggressive moments come when he’s batting. Otherwise, he fosters a calm environment and encourages senior players to step up, which is a vital quality in a leader. He takes a backseat, allowing things to unfold naturally while ensuring that the necessary actions are taken,” Karthik concluded.