India’s Mumbai (Maharashtra), Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) has a new leader who is assuming a leadership role with authority and consistency in a season full of shocks. After taking the helm for the first time in the Indian Premier League (IPL), Rajat Patidar has guided RCB to a strong start, winning three of their first four games.

His leadership and batting performances have been outstanding. Following their victory against the Mumbai Indians (MI), RCB batsman Devdutt Padikkal showered Patidar with adulation during the post-match news conference.

“Rajat is doing a remarkable job, you know, to be captaining for the first time in the IPL and the way he has been handling on and off the pitch and then coming out to bat and doing the job…it’s really commendable,” Padikkal said.

Under Patidar, RCB has triumphed against three of the most fearsome teams in IPL history: the Mumbai Indians (MI), Chennai Super Kings (CSK), and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). In addition to defeating these formidable opponents, the Bangalore-based team has triumphed against them at home.

In four games, he has amassed 161 runs, including two half-centuries. The RCB lineup has benefited greatly from his cool-headed and collected demeanour at the crease.

Although the remainder of the season is still up in the air, the first indications suggest that RCB’s journey is about to embark on a promising chapter that might be written under Rajat Patidar’s leadership.

Prior to the game, MI chose to field first after winning the toss.

Even though Phil Salt left early, MI was made to regret their choice by Virat (67 in 42 balls, with eight fours and two sixes) and Devdutt Padikkal (37 in 22 balls, with two fours and three sixes), who put up a counterattacking 91-run partnership. Jitesh Sharma (40* in 19 balls, with two fours and four sixes) and captain Rajat Patidar (64 in 32 balls, with five fours and four sixes) ensured that the run-rate never dropped after this pair was dismissed. At 221/5, RCB came to an end.

Trent Boult (2/57) and captain Hardik Pandya (2/45) each claimed two wickets but gave up runs. Vignesh Puthur also claimed a wicket. During his return, Jasprit Bumrah scored 0/29 in four overs.

In 12 overs during the run-chase, MI was 99/4. However, RCB was in danger of losing the match due to an incredible 89-run partnership between captain Hardik Pandya (42 in 15 balls, with three fours and four sixes) and Tilak Varma (56 in 29 balls, with four boundaries and four sixes).

However, RCB won by 12 runs because to the timely contributions of Josh Hazlewood (2/37) and Bhuvneshwar Kumar (1/48) and Krunal (4/45).

With three victories and one defeat in four games, RCB is now in third place. All three of their victories have come away from home. MI is in seventh place after winning only one of their last five games.