Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) mentor and batting coach Dinesh Karthik has praised skipper Rajat Patidar for his calm and composed leadership style, which helped the franchise win back-to-back IPL titles.
Speaking on JioHotstar after RCB defeated Gujarat Titans (GT) by five wickets in the 2026 IPL final in Ahmedabad to defend their crown, Karthik highlighted Patidar’s impact as a leader.
“Rajat has been a huge calming influence in a dressing room that is high-octane and high testosterone,” he said. “He keeps things very calm, and that’s so important. The bowlers thrive when you have a calm captain; it definitely helps under pressure. I think he likes to be a star, not a superstar. There are plenty of guys in that team who are big names and get the job done in high-pressure situations.”
Patidar created history in 2025 when he became the first captain to guide RCB to an IPL title. The 33-year-old contributed 312 runs in 14 innings at a strike rate of 143.77 during that successful campaign. In IPL 2026, he took his game to another level as he scored a career-best 501 runs from 14 innings at a strike rate of 192.69. Batting at No. 4, Patidar played a crucial role in RCB’s middle order, especially with his ability to attack spin, which made him a valuable asset for the side.
Karthik further praised Patidar’s approach as a captain.
“The only time Rajat is aggressive is when he’s batting,” he added. “Other than that, he brings a very calm atmosphere and is happy for a lot of the senior players to go front and centre, which I believe is a very important trait in a leader. He just sits back, allows things to get done, and does exactly what needs to be done in that moment.”
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The post IPL 2026: “A huge calming influence in a dressing room” – Dinesh Karthik on Rajat Patidar appeared first on Sports News Portal | Revsportz.
