RCB Confident in Handling Big-Match Pressure, Says Mo Bobat

Bobat remarked, “He’s certainly batting brilliantly right now and has done throughout the competition,” following RCB’s decisive victory in their second straight IPL final. “I’m sure he’ll be thrilled to have survived a major qualifier, and that was a truly special knock today.

In the IPL 2026 Qualifier 1, there was a point in Rajat Patidar’s innings against Gujarat Titans (GT) when the bowling team just ran out of things to say.

It was more than just the savagery of the blows. Patidar had changed course with surety. After Jason Holder’s double-strike, he was rebuilt at one point, scoring 16 off 11 balls. The next, he was destroying one of the tournament’s top bowling offences. With such intensity that GT’s schemes fell apart in real time.

As India starts a new two-year World Cup cycle, clamour for a potential T20I debut—possibly even the captaincy—are unavoidably getting stronger. This is when the crucial blow arrived. For the record, he scored 483 runs at an incredible strike rate of 196.76 for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the 2026 Indian Premier League, placing him second on the run standings.

The innings was seen by RCB’s director of cricket, Mo Bobat, as the most recent indication that Patidar was making significant progress.

“Any squad that has a strong captain gains more self-assurance. These kinds of knocks from him are becoming commonplace. He made some ridiculous shots, but he also had an aggressive intent, which is setting a good example.”

Then, Bobat provided what may have been the most lucid explanation of how Patidar’s game has changed over the previous two seasons. “I remember at some point last season I called him a spin-basher and I think he got a bit annoyed with me because I was implying it was only spin,” Bobat laughed. “He’s probably trying to prove a point to me now.”

He has put a lot of effort into improving his skills with Andy [Flower] and DK [Dinesh Karthik]. Rajat frequently middles the ball, which is one of his traits. The ball frequently strikes the middle of his bat, regardless of pace or spin, front foot or back foot. Usually, that’s a pretty positive indication. He has a fearless intent and incredibly solid fundamentals. Over the past few years, we’ve worked hard to establish that as our team’s identity.

The characteristic of RCB’s innings on Tuesday was Patidar’s intent, which changed the game’s and their innings’ momentum. His end-overs acceleration dragged GT into unfamiliar territory, turning what may have once looked within limits into something suffocatingly massive.

“One of the things he’s done really well this year is picking his moments,” Bobat stated. “I remember the game against Rajasthan Royals (RR) earlier in the season when we lost early wickets. He went through the gears after first absorbing pressure. That requires a great deal of self-control and critical thinking.

“Today was comparable. After a good start from the top three, we lost a couple of wickets and he recognised that there was a moment for a mini rebuild before accelerating again. The most remarkable aspect of his growth has been his ability to read conditions and situations, knowing when to put on top gear and when to lower it.

Patidar’s development has perhaps mirrored RCB’s own evolution over the last two seasons. For years, RCB were heavily reliant on the big stars. Now, they have performers up and down the line-up.

“I’m especially pleased that we’ve got a number of people contributing to wins,” Bobat commented. “When people say things like ‘complete team’, that’s probably what I’d reference. It was a pattern of the way we played last year too. We’re not too dependent on one or two players with the bat or the ball. We’ve had a number of guys stand up and you need that to go far in competitions.

“If I look at today, regardless of the result, everybody who had a chance to impact the game and put pressure on the opposition was able to do that. We concentrate on how we play cricket. The outcomes should take care of themselves if everyone plays their part and contributes.

That identity, Bobat said, has developed over time, with the coming together of several experienced voices who have all delivered.

“Experience counts for a lot in pressure games, but I think it also speaks volumes for their personalities and character,” he said. “Everyone is aware of Virat Kohli’s strength, tenacity, and hunger. However, some of the others share similarities. “Krunal Pandya is someone with so much fight and aggression.” He constantly wants to be a part of the challenging times. Josh Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar are more composed characters, but they still want to take action when necessary. It makes a big difference if you can assemble a team whose members approach difficult circumstances rather than avoid them.

The same thinking, Bobat felt, was reflected in the attitude of Venkatesh Iyer, whose season had begun on the bench despite his pedigree. He broke into the XII towards the latter half of the group stage, and has performed admirably while batting at different positions.

He went out as an impact player to stop a slide when he made his RCB debut. Last week, he batted at No. 4 and made an unbeaten 73 in a match-winning knock against Punjab Kings (PBKS) in Patidar’s absence. Then he moved up to open the batting against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the final league game, and did the same against GT in Qualifier 1. If Phil Salt is unable to play in the final due to a finger injury, his versatility and performances have made sure the team is prepared to overcome his absence.

“The main thing I’d say about Venky is his attitude has been outstanding,” Bobat stated. “Sitting on the bench is new ground for someone who has accomplished what he has—playing for India and winning IPLs. However, that never materialised.

“I recall that we debated whether to select him or Dev [Devdutt Padikkal] at No. 3 at the beginning of the season. In particular, I recall Venky shouting louder than anyone in the dugout as Dev scored runs. That says a lot about both his personality and the atmosphere in the group.

“He wanted his teammate to succeed even though he acknowledged that he wasn’t playing. He put in a tonne of practice time, waited for his chance, and seized it. He and Virat set the tone and let GT know right on that we were going to attack them today.”

That statement may sum up RCB’s season in many ways.

They are currently just one victory away from becoming the third team, behind the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Mumbai Indians (MI), to defend their title. They have various match-winners and personalities, but they are all working for the same identity.