Speaking on the RCB Podcast, the 31-year-old Patidar reflected on his journey from being rejected at the 2022 IPL mega auction despite prior assurance from the RCB management, to becoming the leader of a franchise still chasing its elusive maiden IPL title.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Back in 2022, Patidar was quietly confident that he\u2019d be picked at the mega auction. \"I had got a message (ahead of the mega auction for IPL 2022) that you be ready... that we will pick you. I had a little hope that I will get another chance (to play for RCB). But I wasn't picked in the mega auction. I was a little sad,\" said Patidar on an RCB Podcast.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\"I (had) started playing in my local matches in Indore (after not getting picked in the auction). Then, I got a call that 'we are picking you as a replacement for Luvnith Sisodia', who was injured. To tell you frankly, I didn't want to come as a replacement because I knew that I wouldn't get a chance to play there, and I always feel that I don't want to sit there (in the dugout). I wasn't angry. It was like, if they didn't pick me (during the auction), then I won't get it (get to play). I was angry for a while, but then I was normal,\" said Patidar.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Three years later, in a season that began with speculation around leadership transition, RCB stunned everyone by naming Rajat Patidar as captain for IPL 2025.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\"I had a lot of questions like, there are so many (big players) in the team. Virat Kohli is such a big player, how will you do it under him. I know how supportive he is about this (captaincy change). I knew I have his full support. Like I said, this is a learning for me, it's an opportunity for me. So, I will learn as much as I can from him. Because no one has the experience and ideas that he has in every role -- be it batting, as an individual and as a captain. I have seen him (Kohli) since I started watching TV \u2014 in the IPL, off the field, in the Indian team. To take that thing (the captaincy plaque) from him\u2026 it was very special,\u201d Patidar said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\"When he was giving it to me, I didn\u2019t know how to react. I held it, looked at him, and asked myself, \u2018What should I do now?\u2019 Then he said, \u2018You deserve it, you earned it.\u2019 That calmed me down,\" he recalled.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\"I had a lot of questions like, there are so many (big players) in the team. Virat Kohli is such a big player, how will you do it under him. I know how supportive he is about this (captaincy change). I knew I have his full support. Like I said, this is a learning for me, it's an opportunity for me. So, I will learn as much as I can from him. Because no one has the experience and ideas that he has in every role -- be it batting, as an individual and as a captain. I have seen him (Kohli) since I started watching TV \u2014 in the IPL, off the field, in the Indian team. To take that thing (the captaincy plaque) from him\u2026 it was very special,\u201d Patidar said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Also Read: <\/b> LIVE Cricket Score<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n