In a surprisingly candid revelation, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) captain Rajat Patidar has admitted that he initially had no desire to join the franchise when he was called up as a mid-season injury replacement in 2022. Patidar, who has since transitioned into one of the most successful figures in RCB history, opened up about the immense self-doubt and conflicting personal commitments that nearly altered the course of his professional cricket career.
The Hesitation of Being a “Bench-Warmer”
Patidar first entered the RCB ecosystem in February 2021, playing a handful of games before going completely unsold in the 2022 mega-auction. When Karnataka batter Luvnith Sisodia suffered an injury in April 2022, RCB reached out to Patidar as a late replacement. However, instead of jumping at the opportunity, Patidar felt deeply reluctant.
“I never wanted to join the RCB team,” Patidar revealed in an interview on the YouTube channel. “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.'”
For a player who visualizes himself active on the pitch, the prospect of traveling just to sit on the sidelines was unappealing. Furthermore, Patidar’s wedding date had already been finalized for that summer, adding an immediate personal conflict to the professional gamble. “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,” he added.
From Reluctance to Retaliation
Despite his initial resistance, close mentors, domestic coaches, and family members eventually persuaded Patidar to pack his bags and delay his wedding by two months. What followed is now a permanent chapter of IPL folklore. Handed an unexpected opportunity, Patidar played eight matches that season, capturing the cricketing world’s attention with a brutal, unbeaten 112 off just 54 balls against the Lucknow Super Giants in the high-stakes 2022 Eliminator.
The Rise to Captaincy and Twin Trophies
That breakout season solidified his position within the team. Despite missing the 2023 edition due to a severe Achilles heel injury, Patidar returned stronger in 2024 as a reliable middle-order finisher. Following Virat Kohli’s decision to step down from leadership roles, the team’s management showed ultimate faith in Patidar’s calm demeanor by appointing him captain ahead of the 2025 season.
The strategic gamble paid off perfectly. Patidar not only broke RCB’s infamous championship drought in his debut year as captain but also successfully defended the crown. He led the franchise to a historic “back-to-back” title finish by defeating the Gujarat Titans in the grand finale at the Narendra Modi Stadium. From an unenthusiastic replacement player afraid of the bench to a two-time championship-winning skipper, Rajat Patidar’s journey remains one of the most extraordinary turnarounds in modern sports history.