Under Patidar’s guidance, RCB secured their first IPL title last season and has continued that momentum this year, winning four out of their six matches and currently sitting third on the points table.
“I want us to play aggressive cricket. I want us to be bold—bold when it’s crucial. When the game is on the line or challenges arise, if we’re aggressive and brave during all phases, I believe we will perform as we intend,” Bobat stated ahead of their match against Gujarat Titans.
In this regard, Bobat noted that Patidar has aligned with the team’s strategy while making assertive decisions on the field. “We prefer to plan with aggressive tactics. However, Rajat must make his own choices out there, and he’s quite proficient at that. One of Rajat’s notable strengths is his remarkable calmness.
“When things become a bit chaotic, he excels at staying composed and adhering to his game plan. With the bat, he leads from the front. While in the field, he’s actively pursuing wickets, which aligns perfectly with our identity and how we aim to play,” he remarked.
This season, the Chinnaswamy pitch has displayed a mix of calm and challenging conditions, but Bobat downplayed its significance. “We have a BCCI curator overseeing the pitch preparation, so simply put, we don’t have a significant impact on it. While the venue is familiar to us, we exert no influence over the surface.
“Over the last two and a half years that I’ve been involved, it has varied quite a bit. We feel we have a decent understanding of it. It isn’t always consistent, but we believe we grasp it well. Nevertheless, it doesn’t alter our preparation approach for matches,” he explained.
Meanwhile, Vikram Solanki, Bobat’s counterpart at the Gujarat Titans, stated that their heavy 99-run loss to the Mumbai Indians in their last game hasn’t shaken their confidence. “I don’t think we will suddenly change just due to one or two results. We will remain consistent in our batting, bowling, and overall cricketing approach,” Solanki mentioned in the pre-match press conference.
“We believe in a methodology, in a formula, and have faith in our players to execute that method and formula,” he added.
Middle-order batter Rahul Tewatia has struggled in IPL 2026, but Solanki expressed confidence that the left-hander will soon regain his form.
“Rahul has been an outstanding player for us, no doubt about it. I fondly remember some of his performances. Such memories bring a smile to our faces.
“We must continue to instill confidence in all our players, and we are doing just that,” he concluded.
(With PTI inputs)
