The rise of Rajat Patidar, from a replacement player to captaining Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), has been remarkable, with his journey intertwined with key decisions made within Madhya Pradesh cricket. It appears RCB's influence played a role in shaping Patidar's leadership experience, which ultimately benefited both the player and the franchise.

Initially, Patidar was hesitant to take on captaincy roles, preferring to focus on his batting. Sanjeev Rao, MPCA secretary, recalled that Patidar declined the Ranji captaincy offer four years ago from Chandrakant Pandit, as he wanted to concentrate on his performance. He had two stellar seasons with the bat, averaging over 80 in red-ball cricket during the 2021-22 and 2022 seasons. In the season after, he went on to accumulate 884 runs and soon reaped the rewards with an India call-up.

However, a shift occurred when RCB Director Mo Bobat inquired about Patidar's interest in a leadership role. Subsequently, Patidar volunteered to lead Madhya Pradesh's white-ball sides in the Mushtaq Ali Trophy. He approached MPCA and Pandit, expressing his willingness to lead the team, while ensuring that Shubham Sharma, the Ranji captain, wouldn't be disturbed. Chandrakant Pandit, the KKR coach and former Madhya Pradesh coach, noted Patidar's rapid learning and mental fortitude, which was evident in his leadership of Madhya Pradesh. Pandit also had a conversation with RCB head coach Andy Flower during the SMAT, where Flower showed keen interest in understanding what made Patidar special.

Leading Madhya Pradesh provided Patidar with invaluable captaincy experience. He led them to the final of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) 2024-25, winning eight of the nine matches he led. This stint boosted his confidence and showcased his ability to make quality decisions and emerge as a leader. Former Madhya Pradesh captain Devendra Bundela highlighted Patidar's tactical astuteness and mental toughness, attributes honed through domestic cricket.

This experience proved crucial when RCB appointed Patidar as their captain. Despite initial self-doubt, Patidar embraced the challenge, with support from Virat Kohli. Patidar admitted that being handed over the reins of RCB did put pressure on him, but supportive words from Kohli calmed him. He recognized Kohli's vast experience and saw the captaincy as a learning opportunity.

Rajat Patidar's journey exemplifies how opportunities and experiences at the domestic level can shape a player's leadership abilities, ultimately benefiting their IPL team. RCB's proactive approach in recognizing and nurturing Patidar's leadership potential, combined with Madhya Pradesh's willingness to provide him with captaincy experience, created a win-win situation. As a result, RCB secured a capable leader, and Patidar gained invaluable experience that propelled his career to new heights.