IPL 2025: Sunil Gavaskar Calls Rajat Patidar “Liberated Leader”, Applauds His Impactful Captaincy At RCB

April 8, 2025: Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) are off to an electrifying start under their new captain Rajat Patidar, and the cricketing world is taking note. With commanding victories over giants like Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Chennai Super Kings (CSK), and Mumbai Indians (MI), all in their home grounds, RCB’s resurgence this season has quickly become one of the most captivating stories in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025.

Sunil Gavaskar, legendary Indian cricketer and JioStar expert, was the latest to heap praise on Patidar’s calm and composed leadership, highlighting the atmosphere of unity and support within the RCB camp. Speaking on JioHotstar, Gavaskar expressed his admiration for Patidar’s leadership style and the solid team dynamics at play.

“He certainly seems liberated as the leader, and he knows he’s got a solid group around him,” Gavaskar remarked. “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.”

Patidar, who is captaining RCB for the first time in IPL, has shown maturity beyond his years, impressing with his batting performances as well. With 161 runs in four matches, including two half-centuries, Patidar’s consistency at the crease has provided much-needed stability to the RCB lineup. His relaxed yet effective leadership has instilled a sense of calm in a team that has been on the hunt for their first IPL title for 17 years.

“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 on their side and veterans like Dinesh Karthik guiding the young skipper, RCB fans may finally begin to believe that this could be the year their team clinches the elusive IPL title.

While the road ahead remains challenging, the early signs point to a promising season for RCB, one that could very well be written under the leadership of Rajat Patidar.