‘Mindset is the same as last year’s final’ – RCB captain Rajat Patidar ahead of IPL 2026 summit clash vs GT

Rajat Patidar could join legends like MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma as Indian Premier League (IPL) captains to have won the championship in consecutive seasons. On Sunday, May 31, he will lead defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the IPL 2026 final against the Gujarat Titans (GT) at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

Patidar seemed quite composed ahead of the high-voltage clash, as RCB looks to become the third team after the Chennai Super Kings and the Mumbai Indians to win back-to-back IPL titles. He said he wants to focus on the present instead of dwelling on the past or overthinking future possibilities.

“I’ve never thought about what other captains have done before or whether I want to compete with someone. As an individual, my journey has had its ups and downs, but I’ve never focused on that [captaincy, legacy],” he said in Ahmedabad before RCB’s training session (quotes from ESPNcricinfo).

“Wherever I am, I focus on what I can do best in that moment. I’ve never thought too much about moving forward or looking back. Right now, we’re focused on giving our best in the final,” he added.

While Patidar admitted that leading so many experienced players in the RCB setup adds value to his game, he said that he doesn’t let captaincy change how he is as a person. He thanked the RCB management and the senior players for supporting him and giving him the freedom to express himself as a player and a captain.

“It’s a great opportunity for me to learn from so many experienced players. At the same time, I’ve never tried to change myself. It’s important to be yourself. Just because I’m captain doesn’t mean I need to become someone different. The management has played a big role. They’ve never forced me to be anyone else,” Patidar said.

“They know what kind of person I am. The senior players also understand that. I’ve had good backing from both the management and the senior players, so I’ve never really faced any problems. I’m just staying in my zone and that’s helping me,” he added.

The Madhya Pradesh batter has been in prolific form this season, having amassed 486 runs in 13 innings at an average of 44.18 and a strike rate of 196.77. In Qualifier 1 against the Gujarat Titans, he won the Player of the Match award for his exemplary knock of 93 off 33 balls. He would want to replicate the heroics on Sunday.