IPL 2026: Less expressive and more match-aware, Patidar chooses to lead by instinct

DHARAMSHALA: Rajat Patidar led RCB to an IPL title in his first year as captain of the franchise last year. In his second year at the helm, Patidar and his team are looking good to do an encore after having entered the playoffs.Despite his success as skipper, Patidar is rarely in the spotlight. “That’s the way I am . I’m not that expressive but I have game awareness. I understand the situation well. I just communicate as much as I can, so that I get some more idea about what I can do better. Whatever I do, I do it mostly with my instinct,” said the 32-year-old.However, Patidar feels that the support he receives from teammates and support staff has helped him grow as a leader. “I don’t need to do so much extra. Our management, coaching staff and senior players have a lot of experience and that is helping me as a leader. I get so many ideas from the likes of Kohli, Devdutt, Jitesh, Hazlewood and Tim David. Their ideas and experiences help me a lot,” added the 32-year-old.The RCB skipper feels that there is little to choose between the two teams as his side takes on Gujarat Titans on Tuesday. “Our strength is bowling. The way we bowl in the Powerplay will be crucial. The team that stays calm and executes plans better under pressure will win,” he said.