'Never Wanted To Join The RCB Team': Rajat Patidar Makes Surprising Revelation After IPL 2026 Triumph

Rajat Patidar has made a surprising revelation about his journey with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), admitting that he initially had no interest in joining the franchise when he was called up as an injury replacement during the 2022 IPL season.

Patidar, who is now one of the most important players in the RCB setup, said he believed he would spend the entire season on the bench and had even decided against joining the team. At the time, his wedding date had already been fixed, making the decision even more complicated.

“I never wanted to join the RCB team,” Patidar said in an interview with Rotoris on YouTube. “Because I had a feeling that they were calling me as a replacement, so definitely, they will not give me a chance to play. I also got the same feedback when I joined. They clearly said that I was a replacement, ‘So, relax, chill, you will get a chance only if someone gets injured.’ Honestly, I did not want to join the team. My wedding date was also fixed… I was absolutely clear that I did not want to join because I did not want to sit on the bench. That’s not how I see myself. I feel that if I am going there, I am going there to play. I do not want to sit there; I’d rather not go. This has always been my mindset.”

Patidar first became part of the RCB squad in 2021 after being picked at the IPL auction. However, after featuring in a few matches that season, he went unsold in the 2022 auction.

His fortunes changed a few months later when RCB brought him back as a replacement for the injured Luvnith Sisodia. Despite receiving the opportunity, Patidar remained unconvinced about returning to the franchise.

Patidar also revealed that he spoke to his coaches, senior cricketers and family members about his concerns and made it clear that he did not want to travel just to warm the bench. However, those close to him encouraged him to take the chance and postpone his wedding plans by two months.

That decision eventually turned out to be a defining moment in his career.

Patidar got his opportunity during the season and made a massive impact. He played eight matches and delivered several important performances, including a memorable unbeaten 112 off 54 balls against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in the IPL Eliminator.

ALSO READ: 'There Will Be Some Challenges': AB de Villiers' Blunt Take On Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's Test Future

His rise within the franchise continued over the next few seasons. RCB retained him ahead of the 2024 campaign, and he soon became a key figure in the middle order.

After Virat Kohli decided to step down as captain, and a few years after Faf du Plessis, Patidar was handed the leadership role in 2025. He responded in remarkable fashion, guiding RCB to their long-awaited first IPL title and then leading the team to another championship in 2026.