Kohli–Patidar chemistry and Mo Bobat’s process
RCB broke IPL jinx with a bold leadership reset, meticulous scouting, and ruthless decision-making that aligned vision with roles.
Crucially, RCB empowered Patidar while Kohli supplied intensity, creating a balanced leadership dynamic that unlocked performance under pressure.
Moreover, RCB broke IPL jinx by pairing calm tactical clarity with relentless standards on and off the field throughout 2025.
On a bustling London evening, cricket director Mo Bobat detailed the choices that changed RCB’s destiny and culture.
Importantly, the leadership change grew from face-to-face conversations, clarity of expectations, and an honest appraisal of future needs.
Therefore, RCB broke IPL jinx by choosing process over sentiment, and by selecting people for roles they could elevate.
“Virat would have been a very comfortable choice… But we thought it’s a good opportunity… for a new RCB captain.”
Why leadership changed
Mo Bobat called letting go of Faf du Plessis the toughest call of the 2025 auction cycle.
However, the franchise prioritized long-term leadership succession and tactical freshness over comfort and continuity at the top.
Consequently, RCB broke IPL jinx by backing a new captain profile that matched the squad’s evolving competitive identity.
The leadership search started internally, not in a bidding war, reflecting trust in homegrown voices and shared accountability.
Additionally, Bobat explored captaincy appetite with Rajat Patidar during the 2024 Dharamshala leg against Punjab at practice.
Significantly, Patidar admitted interest without expectation, which signaled humility and readiness for responsibility when opportunity arrived.
“Do you have any captaincy aspirations?” Bobat asked Patidar in Dharamshala during the 2024 season’s away practice.
Kohli’s role, precisely defined
Kohli’s acceptance of a non-captain leadership role proved pivotal to cohesion and clarity across pressure moments.
Moreover, Bobat and Andy Flower met Kohli in Ahmedabad to align on vision and secure wholehearted support for Patidar.
Then, Kohli’s immediate response sealed the deal: “I’m there for Rajat, I’ll support him,” he told the leadership group.
Kohli delivered intensity, standards, and tone, while Patidar supplied calm decision-making and composure during tight finish scenarios.
Furthermore, RCB broke IPL jinx because roles stayed complementary, not competitive, which reduced noise and amplified execution quality.
Kohli’s aggression raised the bar every session, while Patidar’s composure kept the team anchored in critical phases.
“Rajat’s a calm guy… Virat brings the intensity and the standard… He just sets the bar so high.”
Auction bets, not gambles
RCB’s player acquisitions stemmed from interviews, video analysis, and clarity on developmental fit, not impulse buys.
Additionally, Bobat insisted on meeting targets eye-to-eye to judge hunger, role clarity, and alignment with the team’s mission.
Therefore, RCB broke IPL jinx through scouting rigor that weighted character, pressure skills, and system-fit as heavily as raw output.
Jitesh Sharma emerged as a strategic centerpiece after exhaustive evaluation by Bobat and batting mentor Dinesh Karthik.
Moreover, the franchise kept raising the paddle despite criticism, moving from seven to eleven crore to secure Jitesh.
Critics whispered “madness,” but RCB bet on matchup-proof hitting, fast starts, and clutch finishing over public perception.
“We went up to 11… People thought we were mad,” Bobat said about Jitesh’s auction push.
Payoff in decisive moments
Jitesh’s 33-ball 85 in the final league game propelled RCB into the playoffs on a surge of conviction.
Moreover, that innings validated the scouting lens, the price tag, and the trust placed in a non-India-regular performer.
Consequently, RCB broke IPL jinx because their biggest bets paid off exactly when the season demanded elite output.
The champions’ narrative featured more than stars, with Krunal, Bhuvneshwar, and Tim David delivering vital contributions.
Additionally, the supporting cast expanded tactical options, stabilized phases, and absorbed situational stress across the tournament.
Thus, depth and role fidelity, not just big names, underwrote decisive wins during playoff crunch periods.
The Faf decision, explained
Sentiment favored continuity with Faf, but the franchise measured trajectory, age, and future-proofing across formats and roles.
However, Bobat emphasized that Faf’s leadership skill and batting quality remained respected inside the room.
Still, RCB broke IPL jinx by choosing a bolder path designed around timing, succession, and squad evolution windows.
“We could have easily just continued with Faf… age was working against him,” Bobat recalled candidly.
Culture by design
RCB’s culture shifted from hope to method through structured conversations and aligned accountability loops across departments.
Furthermore, interviews, role clarity, and expectation setting replaced vague optimism with measurable, repeatable performance behaviors.
Consequently, RCB broke IPL jinx by institutionalizing processes that outlast one campaign and adapt to future cycles.
The franchise also reframed pressure as privilege, a message Kohli transmitted daily through intensity and standard-setting behaviors.
Additionally, Patidar’s temperament normalized calm under stress, helping teammates process big moments without reactive decision-making.
Therefore, leaders complemented each other’s strengths, reducing volatility and improving collective decision velocity under fire.
Strategy that travels
RCB’s blueprint now mirrors the habit-forming pathways that powered MI and CSK through multiple cycles and renewals.
Moreover, Bobat framed RCB’s trajectory as a “grand path,” with perennial contenders as reference benchmarks for systems thinking.
Thus, RCB broke IPL jinx and built a template aimed at sustaining contention beyond a single title run.
The leadership group now trusts repeatable processes more than narratives about curses, luck, or historical baggage.
Additionally, scouting, development, and role clarity flow into each other, shrinking gaps between plan and execution.
Finally, RCB’s postseason showed a team comfortable in identity, roles, and tempo, not merely inspired by slogans.
What truly changed
First, decisions prioritized the future over familiarity, even when emotions favored the safe, popular route with fans.
Second, leaders set non-negotiables early, then protected role boundaries so everyone knew how to contribute daily.
Third, RCB broke IPL jinx because evidence-led hiring and trust produced performances calibrated for high-leverage moments.
Moreover, Kohli’s endorsement insulated Patidar from noise, which accelerated acceptance and improved dressing-room cohesion.
Additionally, Bobat’s insistence on interviews surfaced drive and fit that highlight reels alone could not reveal reliably.
Therefore, the franchise turned “heist” talk into a documented playbook for sustainable high performance under playoff pressure.
The message to rivals
RCB now stand shoulder-to-shoulder with MI and CSK on the standards runway Bobat described in London.
Moreover, they proved that courage with clarity beats legacy weight when process governs choices and cadence.
Consequently, RCB broke IPL jinx and reframed the league’s competitive conversation around chemistry and role alignment.
“RCB is now on the grand path that has MI and CSK in the front,” Bobat concluded.
