Former South African cricketer and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) stalwart AB de Villiers has spoken about Rajat Patidar's leadership challenge, as the latter prepares to lead RCB in the upcoming IPL 2025 season.
Patidar, who was appointed captain last month, steps into the shoes of illustrious predecessors such as Faf du Plessis and Virat Kohli. The 30-year-old has prior captaincy experience with Madhya Pradesh, having led them to the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy final.
De Villiers acknowledged that Patidar’s biggest hurdle would be overcoming self-doubt while leading a side under the shadow of Kohli.
"I think his biggest challenge will be insecurity—stepping into the big boots of past captains like Faf (du Plessis) and Virat (Kohli). Having Virat around and constantly doubting yourself, 'Am I doing the right thing? What would Virat do?'—that, I think, is his biggest obstacle," de Villiers remarked.
However, he advised Patidar to trust his own style and instincts.
"The way to overcome it is to constantly remind yourself, 'Why am I in this position? Why did they pick me?' There must be a good reason for it. It's time for me to trust it and stay true to who I am—not try to captain like Virat or Faf, but to lead in my way. He should use the experience of Virat, Andy Flower, and other senior players but always stay true to himself. That, to me, would be the best advice for Patidar," he said.
Also read: RCB names Rajat Patidar as captain for IPL 2025
"We might see 300 runs in an IPL match"
De Villiers also commented on the impact player rule, which he believes has significantly altered the game in favour of batsmen.
"The impact player rule has changed the game a lot. As we have seen from some players' comments, it frees up the top three batters—they can take more risks. In a way, it feels a bit unfair, and I've shared some criticism about that. Fielding restrictions allowing only two fielders outside the ring, along with the added freedom for top-order batters, make things complicated for the bowlers. But it is exciting for the batters. We might just see that 300-run mark breached in this IPL season," de Villiers observed.
RCB will face defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders in the season opener on Saturday, March 22, at Eden Gardens, Kolkata.
The match promises to set the tone for a season that could witness record-breaking innings and intense contests.
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