Rajat Patidar, captain of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), on 30 May brushed aside questions about a potential return to India's T20I setup ahead of the IPL 2026 final against Gujarat Titans at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday. Patidar made clear that his singular focus is steering RCB to consecutive IPL titles — a feat achieved by only two franchises in the tournament's history.

Patidar on India Selection Talk

'I'm not looking forward to any selection regarding India. I don't see myself as the T20 captain of India,' Patidar said at the pre-final press conference. The RCB skipper, who has accumulated 486 runs in 14 matches this season, was emphatic that individual milestones and national ambitions are secondary to the task at hand. 'Every captain wants to win trophies. We did it last year, but this is a different season. You cannot keep talking about what happened in 2025. We have to stay in the present,' he added.

Collective Responsibility: RCB's Defining Edge

Patidar attributed RCB's run to the final to a culture of shared accountability rather than dependence on marquee performers — a shift underscored by the side producing eight different Player of the Match award winners across the season. 'Before, there were just one or two players the team depended on. But my observation is that every player takes responsibility when he is going to bat or when he is bowling. Responsibility is the main word that every individual is thinking about,' he said. This collective mindset, he argued, is what separates this RCB vintage from previous editions of the franchise.

Bowling Depth the Key Weapon

The skipper singled out RCB's bowling attack as a decisive factor, with veteran pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar leading the charts with 26 wickets this season. 'If you want to win this competition, you need a good bowling attack. These days it is easy to score 200 or 220, but defending those totals is more difficult,' Patidar noted. He also praised young pacer Rasikh for providing crucial breakthroughs throughout the tournament. 'The way Rasikh has bowled throughout the tournament has been superb, and it has really helped the team,' he said, stressing that no title challenge can rest on one or two bowlers alone.

What a Win Would Mean for RCB

Victory on Sunday would be RCB's fifth IPL final appearance and, crucially, would make them only the third franchise after Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Mumbai Indians (MI) to win back-to-back IPL titles. The historical weight of the occasion is not lost on the camp, yet Patidar insists the focus remains inward. 'It is important to know your strength. You cannot compare yourself with other teams. It is more important to focus on your team and how you play throughout the tournament,' he said.

The Final Outlook

Both RCB and Gujarat Titans arrive at the summit clash in strong form, and Patidar acknowledged the challenge will be mutual. 'Both teams have done really well throughout the tournament. It will be exciting and challenging for both teams,' he said. The final at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday promises to be a high-stakes contest between two sides that have consistently performed across the season. Whether RCB can etch their name alongside CSK and MI in IPL folklore will be decided on the night.