AB de Villiers believes Patidar’s biggest challenge will be handling the “insecurity” of stepping into the shoes of past RCB captains like Faf du Plessis and Virat Kohli.
Virat Kohli has expressed strong support for Rajat Patidar, the newly appointed captain of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), believing that he has the potential to lead the team for a long time. Patidar, one of RCB’s key retentions ahead of last November’s mega auction, was announced as Faf du Plessis’ successor last month.
“He [Patidar] is an incredible talent,” Kohli said at the RCB Unbox event in Bengaluru, where the team’s 2025 roster was unveiled. “He is a great player, but more importantly, he has a good head on his shoulders. He will do a fantastic job for this amazing franchise and take the team forward. He possesses all the qualities required for leadership.”
Patidar, who was initially approached for the role after IPL 2024, is stepping into captaincy for the first time at RCB. However, he has already had leadership experience, having captained Madhya Pradesh in the 2024-25 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, where he led them to the final. His individual performances were outstanding—scoring 428 runs in nine innings at a strike rate of 186.08, including 27 sixes, the second-most in the tournament.
Walking onto the stage amid loud cheers, Patidar acknowledged the legacy of the RCB franchise and spoke about the inspiration he draws from past greats. “Legends like Virat bhai, AB de Villiers, and Chris Gayle have played for RCB. I grew up watching them, and from the very beginning, I have loved this franchise. I am honored to take on this new role and lead one of the biggest teams in T20 cricket,” he said.
De Villiers’ Advice: Stay True to Yourself
AB de Villiers, who played alongside Patidar in the latter’s debut IPL season in 2021, believes captaincy will be both an opportunity and a challenge for the 31-year-old. He advised Patidar to develop his own leadership style instead of trying to emulate Kohli or du Plessis.
“Patidar’s biggest challenge will be insecurity—stepping into the big shoes of captains like Faf and Virat,” de Villiers said during a media session organized by JioStar. “Having Virat around and constantly wondering, ‘Am I making the right decisions? What would Virat do?’ could be his biggest obstacle. My advice to him is to use Virat’s experience, use [head coach] Andy Flower’s insights, but always stay true to who you are.”
Why RCB Chose Patidar as Captain
At the time of Patidar’s captaincy announcement, head coach Andy Flower highlighted three key traits that made him the right choice:
- Calmness & Simplicity: “There is a calm and simple nature to Rajat that will be invaluable, especially in a high-pressure tournament like the IPL.”
- Care for Teammates: “Though he is naturally a quiet person, he genuinely cares about his teammates. This will earn him respect and loyalty from the dressing room.”
- Steely Determination: “He has a stubbornness and strength that set him apart. I’ve seen it when coaching him—he sometimes won’t listen! But that same bravery and confidence in his game will serve him well through the ups and downs of leadership.”
With strong backing from Kohli, guidance from de Villiers, and confidence from the RCB management, Patidar is set to embark on a new journey as captain, hoping to lead RCB to greater success.
