Rajat Patidar, who took over the captaincy of Royal Challengers Bengaluru in February 2025, has achieved a remarkable feat in his debut year as leader.
On Thursday, May 29th, he etched his name alongside cricketing giants MS Dhoni, Anil Kumble, Rohit Sharma, and Hardik Pandya, becoming the fifth Indian captain to guide his team to the IPL final in his very first season at the helm. Under Patidar’s guidance, RCB delivered a commanding performance in the first qualifier of IPL 2025, defeating Punjab Kings by a convincing 8-wicket margin. The match, held at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur, Chandigarh, saw RCB secure their place in the highly anticipated final of IPL 2025.
After winning the crucial toss, Patidar opted to field first, a decision that proved fruitful as the Shreyas Iyer-led Punjab Kings struggled to build momentum. PBKS were eventually bowled out for a modest total of 101 runs in just 14.1 overs.
The target of 102 runs presented little challenge for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru, who have reached the IPL final on three previous occasions but are yet to lift the trophy. They chased down the required runs comfortably in a mere 10 overs, losing only two wickets in the process.
MS Dhoni holds the distinction of being the first Indian captain to reach the IPL final in his debut year as captain, achieving this milestone in 2008 with the Chennai Super Kings. Anil Kumble followed suit in 2009, leading the Royal Challengers Bengaluru to the final in his first year as captain. However, similar to RCB’s past experiences, Kumble’s side also finished as the runner-up in that season.
Now, Rajat Patidar has joined this exclusive group, raising hopes among RCB fans that he can go one step further and lead the team to their maiden IPL title.
