Rajat Patidar's emergence as one of the most influential figures in the Indian Premier League continued in 2026 as he guided Royal Challengers Bengaluru to a second successive title. The RCB captain not only led from the front but also made vital contributions with the bat, helping his side successfully defend the crown they had won a year earlier.
Patidar's Stellar Season with the Bat
Patidar enjoyed another outstanding season in the middle order, scoring 501 runs at a remarkable strike rate of 192.69. Time and again, he delivered in pressure situations, whether stabilising the innings after early wickets or launching counterattacks when RCB needed quick runs. His ability to perform under duress was a key factor in the team's back-to-back title triumphs.
Clarke's Verdict: Underrated and Overlooked
Despite those contributions, former Australia captain Michael Clarke feels Patidar's performances have not received the recognition they deserve. Speaking on the Beyond23 Cricket Podcast, Clarke named the RCB skipper as one of the most underrated performers of IPL 2026, arguing that the presence of Virat Kohli often means other key contributors receive less attention.
"Patidar had a stellar tournament again and is my player under the radar. Virat Kohli being in the team will always be the most spoken about player. But Patidar has done an exceptional job with the way he leads and gets the best out of all of his players. His own performance, batting in the tough middle order, has been fantastic," Clarke said.
Leadership Credentials on the Rise
Patidar's leadership credentials have grown significantly over the last two seasons. Under his captaincy, RCB transformed from a team that spent years chasing a maiden title into one that has now won back-to-back championships. For Clarke, those achievements should place the 31-year-old firmly in discussions surrounding India's T20 side.
"Though he's 31, there has to be a talk about him in the Indian T20 team. I don't know if he will captain India, but he has leadership qualities. His middle-order batting has been phenomenal. Batting at No.4 is the hardest in T20s, and he comes in at the position and just explodes," he added.
Selectors Cannot Overlook Consecutive Titles
The former Australian skipper believes Patidar's value extends beyond his batting. According to Clarke, captaining a side to consecutive IPL titles is an achievement that selectors simply cannot overlook. While competition for places remains intense in Indian cricket, Clarke feels Patidar has done enough to push himself to the front of the queue for white-ball opportunities.
"India has a lot of talent at the moment, and a number of them are fighting to get into the Indian team from this IPL. But if you captain a team that goes on to win back-to-back IPL tournaments, the BCCI and the Indian selectors must be talking about him. His name must be in front of the queue in T20s, and he could even be looked at in ODI cricket," said Clarke.
With 501 runs, a strike rate approaching 200 and another IPL trophy as captain, Patidar's case has certainly become difficult to ignore. Whether it translates into an India recall remains to be seen, but Clarke believes the RCB skipper has earned the right to be part of that conversation.
