March 19, 2025: Royal Challengers Bangalore’s (RCB) legendary batter AB de Villiers has offered valuable advice to the team’s new captain, Rajat Patidar, ahead of the 2025 IPL season. De Villiers, who has played alongside the likes of Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis, acknowledged that Patidar has big shoes to fill as he steps into the captaincy role for the first time.
Speaking on the JioStar Press Room on March 18, de Villiers addressed Patidar’s potential insecurities, noting that the pressure of following in the footsteps of renowned captains like Kohli and du Plessis could be daunting. However, he urged Patidar to trust in himself and not try to replicate the leadership styles of his predecessors.
“His biggest challenge will be insecurity, stepping into the big boots of the past captains like Faf and Virat. Having Virat around and constantly almost doubting yourself,” said de Villiers. He emphasized that the key to successful leadership is staying true to oneself, rather than attempting to emulate the leadership styles of others.
De Villiers also highlighted the importance of using the experiences and knowledge of both Kohli and head coach Andy Flower to Patidar’s advantage. He believes Patidar should lean on the wisdom and advice of these seasoned professionals to guide his leadership approach, rather than feeling overwhelmed by the expectations.
Patidar will make his IPL captaincy debut in the season opener against the defending champions, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). De Villiers’ words of encouragement are sure to boost Patidar’s confidence as he embarks on this new journey as RCB’s captain.