In the qualifiers of the Indian Premier League 2025, Royal Challengers Bangalore defeated Punjab Kings and made it to the finals. Rajat Patidar took charge of the team for the first time and created history. Rajat has now become the 5th Indian captain to take his team to the IPL finals for the first time. He made a place in the special list of great captains Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Rohit Sharma.

Rajat Patidar was announced as the captain of Royal Challengers Bangalore in February 2025. On Thursday (May 29), he achieved a special feat by joining the list of MS Dhoni, Anil Kumble, Rohit Sharma, and Hardik Pandya. Patidar became the fifth Indian captain to reach the IPL final in his first year. Under Patidar's captaincy, RCB made it to the finals by defeating Punjab Kings by 8 wickets in the first qualifier of IPL 2025.

Patidar won the toss and chose to bowl first against Punjab Kings. Shreyas Iyer's team was bowled out for 101 runs in just 14.1 overs in front of RCB's lethal bowling. The target of 102 runs was not difficult for RCB and the three-time finalist team achieved the target in 10 overs by losing 2 wickets.

Dhoni was the first Indian to reach the IPL final in his first year. He achieved this feat for Chennai Super Kings in 2008. Anil Kumble captained RCB in 2009 and led the Bangalore team to the final but RCB also remained runner-up like CSK.

Indian captains who reached the IPL final in their first year:

MS Dhoni (CSK) – 2008

Anil Kumble (RCB) – 2009

Rohit Sharma (MI) – 2013

Hardik Pandya (GT) – 2022

Rajat Patidar (RCB) – 2025

RCB captains in IPL finals:

Anil Kumble – 2009

Daniel Vettori – 2011

Virat Kohli – 2016

Rajat Patidar – 2025*

PC Social media