“I can see similarities with Dhoni & Rohit in the way Rajat Patidar leads RCB, says Saba Karim

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) capped off another memorable TATA IPL season by successfully defending their title and securing a second consecutive championship in Ahmedabad on Sunday night.

Former India player Saba Karim said skipper Rajat Patidar’s contribution to the title defence was immense. “One of the biggest reasons behind RCB winning a second consecutive title has been the clarity around individual roles within the team, and Rajat Patidar deserves a lot of credit for that. If you look at his journey, he came in as a replacement player and eventually became the captain. For someone without international experience, earning respect in a dressing room filled with world-class players, including Virat Kohli, is not easy. Rajat earned that respect through consistent performances,” said Karim on Star Sports Amul Cricket Live.

“Once he established himself, he became instrumental in shaping this side. He has played a major role in building a strong bowling unit. I also see a lot of clarity in his captaincy. When we talk about captains who have led teams to consecutive titles, names like MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma come up, and I can see similarities in the way Rajat Patidar leads this team,” he added.

Virat, Rajat have RCB fans counting stars as PUMA celebrates title with iconic photo

“Winning trophies has always been my biggest motivation in cricket because there’s no feeling quite like lifting a championship. Individual performances and match wins bring happiness, but winning a tournament is something truly special. Throughout my career, I’ve always visualised and manifested success at the team level, and I’ve been fortunate enough to be part of sides that have achieved that. To win a fifth IPL trophy in eleven years is incredibly satisfying, and I’m grateful for the journey and the opportunities that have come my way,” RCB all-rounder Krunal Pandya told JioHotstar’s Google Search AI Mode Match Centre Live.

As a senior player, you naturally enjoy that responsibility more when you’re contributing well yourself because confidence allows you to help others more effectively, says Bhuvneshwar Kumar 

RCB pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar reflected on his leadership role within RCB’s bowling unit and the development of younger bowlers. “As a senior player, you naturally enjoy that responsibility more when you’re contributing well yourself because confidence allows you to help others more effectively. When it comes to young bowlers like Rasikh, senior players can guide and support them, but a lot of the credit has to go to the players themselves. Their willingness to learn, their dedication, and the effort they put into improving are what ultimately make the difference. They’ve not only learned from experienced players in the group but also from someone like Josh Hazlewood and the coaching staff. Yash Dayal did an excellent job last season, and this year Rasikh stepped up and embraced that responsibility as well. Their growth has been a huge positive for the team,” he said.

Former India player Sanjay Bangar praised RCB’s sustained success and the experience within the squad. “RCB always looked capable of making this kind of impact, but they had to wait a long time for it. They were consistently reaching the playoffs and finals, but once they tasted success and found a group of players who complemented each other well, things started to fall into place. What stands out about this RCB side is the experience it possesses. Most of the players have played international cricket, so in many ways it resembles an international team in terms of its make-up. That experience and temperament become invaluable in pressure situations. Success breeds confidence, and RCB have now multiplied that success. Who knows, this could be the start of a decade where they go on to win a few more titles,” he told Amul Cricket Live.

Another former Indian captain Anil Kumble reflected on Gujarat Titan’s campaign. “Gujarat Titans bounced back strongly after losing their first two matches, with their top order consistently providing excellent starts. Their bowling attack was also experienced and capable of handling pressure situations. However, the middle order lacked consistency whenever the top order failed. Opposition teams knew that dismissing the top three early gave them a real chance in the game, and that is exactly what happened in the final. Unfortunately for Gujarat Titans, the middle order could not recover from those early setbacks. That is an area they will certainly look to strengthen heading into next season,” he said.