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Patidar: Mindset is the same as last year’s final for RCB star

Tanay Hughes · 30/05/2026 · 1 min read

Approaching the Grand Stage with Calm

As the anticipation for the IPL 2026 final builds in Ahmedabad, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) captain Rajat Patidar cuts a figure of serene focus. While the media and fans speculate on the weight of legacy or the potential for individual milestones, Patidar is keeping his eyes firmly on the task at hand. For him, the upcoming match is not about defining a career or chasing personal T20I captaincy aspirations; it is about enjoying the fruits of a season defined by hard work.

During a training session in Ahmedabad, Patidar addressed the persistent noise surrounding his leadership. “I’ve never thought about what other captains have done before or whether I want to compete with someone,” he noted. “As an individual, my journey has had its ups and downs, but I’ve never focused on those external pressures. Wherever I am, I focus on what I can do best in that moment.”

Tanay Hughes

Tanay Hughes is a senior cricket correspondent for the Daily FT, Sri Lanka’s leading financial daily. Of Burgher descent, Hughes grew up steeped in the island’s rich literary and cricketing traditions. He covers the national team, the World Test Championship, and the domestic circuit with a special focus on spin bowling and the transformation of cricket infrastructure after the civil war. His work also explores the business side of the sport, including broadcasting deals and the financial pressures on smaller Test-playing nations. A Colombo native and University of Colombo graduate, Hughes is a regular voice on Sri Lankan television panels and contributes to The Cricketer and Wisden online.