"Liberated as leader": Sunil Gavaskar applauds Rajat Patidar's impactful captaincy at RCB

Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], April 8 (ANI): Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) are off to a dream start under their new skipper Rajat Patidar, and the cricketing fraternity has taken notice. With wins over heavyweights like Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Chennai Super Kings (CSK), and Mumbai Indians (MI), all in their own backyards, RCB's resurgence this season has been one of the most talked-about storylines in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025.
Legendary Indian cricketer and JioStar expert Sunil Gavaskar was the latest to heap praise on Patidar's composed leadership and the environment he's helped create within the camp.
"He certainly seems liberated as the leader, and he knows he's got a solid group around him," Gavaskar said on JioHotstar.
"He has seniors who are always willing to lend a hand, and a strong support staff. Someone like Dinesh Karthik -- people don't talk enough about his influence. DK is the kind of guy who, even on off days, spends time with younger players, offering guidance and inputs," he added.
Patidar, captaining RCB for the first time in the IPL, has not only shown maturity beyond his years but has also been impactful with the bat. He has scored 161 runs in four matches, including two half-centuries. His calm and calculated approach at the crease has offered much-needed stability in the RCB lineup.
His relaxed yet effective leadership has brought a sense of calm and purpose to a side that has long been searching for its maiden IPL title.
"Rajat is lucky to have that environment -- a group that's been hungry for success. Seventeen years without a title, and now they understand what needs to be done to win. With a relaxed, laid-back captain, others are also stepping up with their experience to help move the team forward," Gavaskar added.
With the momentum firmly on their side and experienced heads like Dinesh Karthik rallying around the young skipper, RCB fans may finally dare to believe that this could be their year.
While it remains to be seen how the rest of the season unfolds, the early signs point toward a promising chapter in RCB's journey, one that could be written under Rajat Patidar's watch.
Coming to the match, MI won the toss and opted to field first.
Though Phil Salt departed early, Virat (67 in 42 balls, with eight fours and two sixes) and Devdutt Padikkal (37 in 22 balls, with two fours and three sixes) made sure MI regretted their decision as they put on a counter-attacking 91-run stand. After the dismissal of this duo, skipper Rajat Patidar (64 in 32 balls, with five fours and four sixes) and Jitesh Sharma (40* in 19 balls, with two fours and four sixes) made sure that the run-rate never went down. RCB ended at 221/5.
Hardik Pandya (2/45), the skipper, and Trent Boult (2/57) took two wickets but leaked runs. Vignesh Puthur got a wicket as well. Jasprit Bumrah delivered figures of 0/29 in four overs on his comeback.
During the run-chase, MI was 99/4 in 12 overs, but an explosive 89-run stand between Tilak Varma (56 in 29 balls, with four boundaries and four sixes) and skipper Hardik Pandya (42 in 15 balls, with three fours and four sixes) threatened to take the game away from RCB.
However, Krunal (4/45), Josh Hazlewood (2/37) and Bhuvneshwar Kumar (1/48) came in clutch with crucial wickets at the right times, helping secure RCB a 12-run win. RCB is at the third spot with three wins and a loss in four matches, and all three wins have been away from home. MI have won just one out of their five games and are in the eighth spot. (ANI)