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"Rajat Patidar Didn't Have To Do Much" - Bhuvneshwar On RCB’s IPL 2025 Triumph
Follow Us“The best part was that since it was such an experienced team, Rajat didn’t have to do much," said Bhuvi
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) finally ended their 18-year wait for an Indian Premier League (IPL) title earlier this year, lifting the trophy for the first time in their history. One of their key recruits from the 2025 auction, former India seamer Bhuvneshwar Kumar, believes the side’s vast experience meant new skipper Rajat Patidar didn't have to do much.
“The best part was that since it was such an experienced team, Rajat didn’t have to do much. Where leadership was needed, he took decisions without hesitation. That’s a quality - knowing when to step in and when to let things be,” Bhuvneshwar said on the podcast Talk with Manvendra.
Reflecting on RCB’s title-winning campaign, the veteran pacer, who finished with 17 wickets, highlighted the collective effort behind the triumph. “This time, the biggest difference was that all players in the XI won matches at different times, in different situations. You can’t win a big tournament relying on just one or two players. Bowlers stepped up in some games, batters in others. In every stage, a new player emerged to win it for us,” he added.
Bhuvneshwar also opened up about his evolving relationship with Virat Kohli. “Things are different now. When we meet these days, we talk more about family or off-the-ground matters because everyone has a family now. We talk about how we are doing in life other than cricket. Earlier, when we weren’t married and were younger, it was more about the usual fun and jokes boys have. So that’s where the change has come.
“We never really need that bond to perform well. If RCB has picked me, Virat, or any other player, they want us to perform regardless of friendship. Everyone knows what they have to do on the ground. But off the ground, of course, things have changed. We’ve matured, we’ve grown older, so now the conversations are different.”