Rajat Patidar Makes New Promise! Commits What Dhoni, Rohit Couldn't Do

MS Dhoni, Rajat Patidar and Rohit Sharma [Source: AFP]

Royal Challengers Bengaluru have rewritten their history in a dramatic fashion. After 18 long years of heartbreak, they finally lifted the IPL trophy in 2025, only to defend it successfully in 2026.

Now, captain Rajat Patidar has made a promise that not even legendary skippers MS Dhoni or Rohit Sharma could fulfil. When director of cricket Mo Bobat publicly challenged him to chase an unprecedented third consecutive title, Patidar’s one-word reply reflected confidence.

RCB Bag Back-to-Back Trophies

Royal Challengers Bengaluru ended their agonising title drought on 3 June 2025, defeating Punjab Kings by 6 runs in a tense final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

Batting first, RCB put up a competitive 190 for 9 on the board. The bowling unit then held its nerve, restricting Punjab Kings to 184 for 7.

Left-arm spinner Krunal Pandya was named Player of the Match for his superb spell of 2 for 17, while experienced seamer Bhuvneshwar Kumar bowled a decisive 19th over that derailed the chase.

Title Defended Successfully

A year later, on 31 May 2026, RCB carved their name deeper into IPL folklore. Facing the Gujarat Titans in the final, they became only the third team ever, after Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians, to defend the title.

RCB’s bowling attack once again delivered when it mattered most. Young pacer Rasikh Salam Dar led the way with figures of 3 for 27, helping restrict a strong Titans line-up to just 155 for 8.

The chase was masterfully orchestrated by Virat Kohli, who produced a breathtaking unbeaten 75 off 42 balls. He reached his fastest IPL half-century, off just 25 deliveries, as RCB cruised to 161 for 5 in 18 overs.

The two trophies in two years had turned perennial underachievers into the league’s most feared unit.

Patidar Promises Three Trophies Back to Back

Amid the celebrations, the RCB think-tank immediately set its sights on an even bigger target. Director of cricket Mo Bobat, addressing captain Rajat Patidar in front of the dressing room, threw down the question.

“I’ve got one last thing to say. No team’s ever won three IPL trophies in a row. Skipper, what do you reckon? Three in a row next year?”

Patidar, calm and composed as ever, did not hesitate. His reply was simple, direct, and loaded with intent, “Definitely.”

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That one word was more than just confidence. It was a promise. No captain in IPL history, not Rohit Sharma with his five titles, not MS Dhoni with his own five, has ever managed to secure a hat-trick of trophies.

Chennai Super Kings came close with back-to-back wins in 2010 and 2011, and Mumbai Indians repeated the feat in 2019 and 2020, but both dynasties fell short when a third straight title was within reach.

Patidar has now publicly committed to breaking that barrier, turning a team once known for near-misses into the first to win three on the trot.

Challenge for Rohit Sharma and MS Dhoni

If Rajat Patidar leads RCB to a third consecutive IPL title, the biggest immediate challenge will be the threat to the historic legacies of MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma.

Both men currently sit at the summit with five IPL trophies each, yet neither has accomplished what Patidar is now aiming for.

The speed of this success only adds to the challenge. Rohit took seven seasons, from 2013 to 2019, to collect his first four trophies. Dhoni’s first four titles were spread across 13 season, from 2008 to 2021. 

How Patidar Will Challenge CSK And MI?

Patidar, by contrast, would hold three titles in his first three full years as captain, a perfect win rate that neither legend can match from the start of their leadership journeys.

Beyond numbers, an RCB hat-trick would dismantle the long-standing IPL duopoly. For over a decade, MI and CSK have been the undisputed heavyweights, fiercely guarding their golden eras and setting the benchmark for consistency.

A third consecutive crown for Bengaluru would officially establish a new dynasty, forcing the old giants to innovate just to prevent their historical dominance from being completely eclipsed.

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