Rajat Patidar said RCB were calmer while defending their IPL title because they dominated the season and believed they could win again. After leading the team to a second straight championship, he credited management and players for backing his understated captaincy. Patidar also praised Virat Kohli, calling his experience and professionalism invaluable for younger players.

Ahmedabad: Rajat Patidar credited Royal Challengers Bengaluru's dominant campaign and the unwavering support from the team environment after RCB secured a historic second consecutive IPL title, saying the side entered the final stages of the tournament with complete belief in their ability to defend the crown.

Having led RCB to back-to-back championships, Patidar reflected on the contrasting emotions between the two title-winning seasons. While the pressure of ending the franchise's long wait for silverware weighed heavily on the team last year, he said the defending champions approached the latest campaign with a calmer mindset built on consistent performances throughout the tournament.

"Last year was a lot of pressure, this year was more calm because the way we played throughout the tournament, we dominated this year," Patidar said after the match.

The RCB skipper emphasized that the team's confidence stemmed from the manner in which they performed from the start of the season, allowing them to believe a successful title defence was within reach.