Indore: Long after the champagne and confetti shower, combined with a grand fireworks display that lit up the night sky over the Narendra Modi stadium in Ahmedabad, announcing the coronation of Royal Challengers Bengaluru as the IPL champions for the second consecutive year, congratulatory messages continued to swamp the Patidar household in Indore on the spectacular title triumph.Those who have known Rajat Patidar, the RCB skipper, since his childhood and followed his rise through the cricketing ranks, said the title-run under his leadership was built on a quality that no piece of statistics can truly capture, his ability to come back stronger than ever after every setback.For family members and coaches, Patidar, who became only the third captain of an IPL franchise to lift two consecutive titles, reaped the rewards for years of perseverance, discipline and an unwavering belief in starting over whenever circumstances so demanded.“We are extremely proud of Rajat and his team. Their hard work has paid off. After many ups and downs, he is finally getting what he deserves,” his father, Manohar Patidar told TOI.His family residence in Indore saw a steady stream of visitors, relatives and well-wishers throughout the day. While congratulatory calls and messages continued to pour in from across the country, the family chose to keep the celebrations subdued, maintaining the low-profile approach they have always preferred. Rajat, who celebrated his 33rd birthday on Monday, is currently in Ahmedabad with family members and his team.Rajat’s journey with the RCB has been one of perseverance. After joining the franchise in 2021, he went unsold in the 2022 auction but returned later that season as an injury replacement. A serious injury ruled him out in 2023, but he made a strong comeback in 2024.However, his crowning moment arrived in 2025 when he was named captain and went on to lead RCB to its maiden IPL trophy. He cemented his legacy in the franchise, wrapping up another title-winning before an adoring crowd of faithfuls on Sunday.Back in Indore, his grandfather Jagdish Narayan Patidar watched the title-winning match with relatives on a blockbuster evening. As soon as RCB’s victory became a formality, supporters gathered outside his residence with sweets and fireworks.For Rajat’s coaches, the victory brought back memories of a young boy who began his cricket journey at the age of seven at Vijay Club, a local cricket club near his home. His father would regularly ferry him to matches across the city on a two-wheeler, ensuring he never missed an opportunity to play.Vikas Atre, who now manages Vijay Club after the passing of Rajat’s first coach Ramji Atre earlier this year, said the batter’s determination was evident from an early age.“His focus on the game and calm attitude marked him out as a special talent. He never stops practising, never gives up. Even today, whenever he is in Indore, he comes to the club, interacts with youngsters and remains the same humble person. In fact, he still personally comes to renew his club membership every year,” Atre told TOI.Former India cricketer and coach Amay Khurasiya, who trained Rajat at various age-group camps and at the MPCA academy, said resilience has been the defining feature of his career.“He appears calm and composed on the outside, but is extremely competitive. Injuries, poor form and disappointments never stalled his progress in the sport. Every time he suffered a setback, he went back to the basics and started from zero. That is his biggest strength,” Khurasiya told TOI.Recalling long training sessions at the MPCA academy, Khurasiya said Rajat was among the hardest-working players he coached. “He would train drenched in sweat but never complained. I don’t remember him ever saying he was tired. He is a delight for any coach. He has gone through difficult phases in his career, but always found a way to bounce back,” he said.For his family and coaches, RCB’s second consecutive IPL triumph is not merely the story of a captain lifting a trophy. It is the culmination of years of perseverance, countless hours of practice and a refusal to be defined by setbacks, qualities they believe have shaped Rajat’s rise from the local grounds of Indore to the pinnacle of Indian franchise cricket.
