Mumbai: It is frequently stated that a player's character is revealed by their response to failure. Rajat Patidar exemplifies this notion. Following his impressive performance in Madhya Pradesh's Ranji Trophy triumph in the 2021-22 season, he earned the opportunity to play Test matches at home against England in 2024. Unfortunately, he struggled significantly, accumulating only 63 runs across six innings.

Despite receiving support from the team management, he was unable to find his footing and often fell victim to unusual dismissals, including being out to long hops. Consequently, he was dropped from the team, which can have a detrimental effect on a player's confidence.

However, Patidar demonstrated resilience in the face of this setback. While his chance with the national team may have slipped away, he has continued to perform well in other cricketing opportunities. His recent achievements in the ongoing IPL have certainly helped him regain his standing.

Notably, he has impressed many with his adept handling of the captaincy for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, leading the team to three victories in four matches.

Given the presence of several high-profile players in the RCB squad, his selection as captain was unexpected. "Life is such that it does not spare anyone. If you observe, those who have faced failures more frequently often emerge as the best leaders in the future," remarked former India cricketer and Madhya Pradesh stalwart Amay Khurasiya, who has played a vital role in Patidar's development by refining his fundamentals at camps organized by the Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association (MPCA).

"Cricketers generally encounter failures regularly. While some struggle to recover from setbacks, others manage to bounce back," Khurasiya noted, having coached Kerala to the Ranji Trophy final last season. He identified two key qualities that have enabled Patidar to navigate this challenging phase in his career: "When you find yourself at a low point, time and patience are your best allies, and not many possess these traits. I believe Rajat has an abundance of both. The best approach is to acknowledge that he had the opportunities but could not capitalize on them. There will be another day; the sun will rise again."

Superb form

There is no substitute for leading from the front. Patidar's consistent scoring has instilled a sense of confidence in his approach. It is during the challenging phases of the game, particularly in the middle and slog overs, that he distinguishes himself with his creative and bold batting style. The victory on Monday against the Mumbai Indians at Wankhede Stadium exemplified this. The MI bowlers had effectively restricted RCB's scoring during the middle overs, with their captain Hardik Pandya leading the bowling attack (3-0-22-2). In his final over, the 17th of the innings, Patidar struck two sixes and a four, accumulating 23 runs in that over and emerging victorious in the duel between captains. His impressive innings of 64 runs off 32 balls contributed to RCB's total of 221/5, marking his second half-century in four innings after an explosive 14-ball 34 against KKR.

Khurasiya remarked, "His head position and body balance are exceptional. When your head is positioned correctly and you can read the length early, execution becomes straightforward."

Captaincy acumen

On Monday, His strategic skills were put to the test when Hardik and Tilak Varma scored 89 runs off just 34 balls, shifting the momentum of the match. With 41 runs required from 18 balls and six wickets remaining, the outcome was uncertain.

Patidar managed the situation effectively. The decision regarding which bowler to utilize in the final three overs proved to be critical. Patidar made astute choices, as Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, and Krunal Pandya performed admirably under pressure, allowing RCB to concede only 28 runs while claiming five wickets.

Krunal, who bowled the final over, expressed his admiration for Patidar’s composure.

“Rajat has been exceptional. He is a captain who instills confidence when he hands you the ball, supports your game plan, and as a bowler, that is invaluable. His calm demeanor simplifies situations. You can observe this in his batting as well,” remarked Krunal, who took three wickets in the last over.

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