Rajat Patidar (BCCI/IPL Photo)
NEW DELHI: Emotions, cheers and roars echoed around the Narendra Modi Stadium as Rajat Patidar stepped up for the post-match presentation after Royal Challengers Bengaluru clinched their second successive IPL title with a five-wicket win over Gujarat Titans in the IPL 2026 final in Ahmedabad.RCB, who won their first IPL title in Ahmedabad in 2025, successfully defended the title a year later, becoming only the third franchise after Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings to achieve the feat. The win also extended the streak of top-flight winners who have gone on to lift the trophy to nine consecutive seasons.
This victory placed Patidar in the elite team, making him the third captain in the history of the Indian Premier League to win two consecutive titles.MS Dhoni achieved the feat with Chennai Super Kings in 2010 and 2011, while Rohit Sharma led Mumbai Indians to glory in 2019 and 2020.After his title-winning moment, Patidar took to social media and summed up the achievement in four words.“E-Sala Namdo Cup”“, Patidar wrote.Speaking about the season, Patidar admitted that the pressure this season has been completely different from what the team experienced a year ago.
“Last year there was a lot of pressure, and this year was much calmer because the way we played throughout the tournament, we controlled it this year.” Patidar said after the match.
“So we were quite confident that if we played like this we would definitely win the second title for RCB.”Speaking about his style of leading the team, Patidar said that his calm demeanor should not be confused with lack of awareness.“I am not expressive but at the same time I am aware of the game situation. Of course you need support, as I said there was a lot of support from the management and the players as well.”
Patidar also paid special tribute to Virat Kohli, saying the former skipper’s influence on and off the field continues to inspire the team.Kohli anchored RCB’s chase of 156 against Gujarat Titans with an unbeaten 75, taking the team home with two overs to spare in Ahmedabad.The star finished the season with 675 runs, including one century and five half-centuries.“If I talk about Virat Kohli, I have no words to explain him. He used to do great things,” Patidar told reporters.“He’s a great player, everyone knows him, by the way he plays. We all have the opportunity to learn from him on and off the field. We spend a lot of time with him and try to find out what he has to say about cricket or anything else;” The RCB captain said.