In a thrilling, high-stakes final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) defeated and engraved their names in the history books Gujarat Titans (GT) with five wickets to claim IPL 2026 championship. The win marked a historic back-to-back title defense for the franchise. However, amid the roaring fireworks and celebratory festivities, the night was marked by a deeply emotional tribute led by the skipper. Rajat Patidarensuring that the triumph closes with more remembrance than just fun.
Rajat Patidar dedicates RCB’s IPL 2026 win to Bengaluru crowd victims
A year ago, RCB finally climbed Mount Everest. After 18 years of heartache, boredom and cruel jokes at their expense, they lifted their first IPL trophy. But the happiest moment in the franchise’s history quickly turned into a tragedy that left Bengaluru in mourning. On June 4, 2025, just a day after breaking the title drought, a massive victory parade culminated in a deadly crowd outside the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium. The gathering of thousands of people for the congratulatory ceremony caused the crowd to swell to excess. Entry points were clamped down, resulting in a devastating crush that left 11 dead and dozens injured, leaving a lasting mark on the city.
Patidar made sure those 11 supporters were not forgotten as RCB became the third team in IPL history to successfully defend their crown in Ahmedabad on Sunday night.
“We dedicate this trophy not to our fans who died in the tragedy last year, but to our family members.“,” said a nervous Patidar during the post-match presentation.
Throughout the IPL 2026 season, RCB has made a conscious, dignified effort to honor the victims. During the season opener, the team wore black armbands, observed a moment of silence and practiced in jerseys emblazoned with the number 11. Most impressively, the franchise has kept 11 seats permanently vacant at the Chinnaswamy Stadium all season as a mark of respect. The team lifted the trophy once again, fulfilling a silent promise that proved that RCB had not forgotten its bereaved family.
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Patidar’s birthday gets even better as he earns a place in the exclusive IPL captains club
The historic victory on May 31 was sweeter for the Patidar, who celebrated his 33rd birthday today, June 1. Interestingly, the win catapulted him into the extra-exclusive cricketing stratosphere. Patidar has now become the third captain in IPL history to join their legendary ranks Rohit Sharma and MS Dhoniwinning back-to-back championships. Interestingly, he achieved this feat in his first two seasons as captain.
“It feels really good. This is the best present because today is my birthday so it couldn’t be better” Patidar smiled.
This phase is yet another incredible chapter for a player whose IPL journey has not followed the traditional Hollywood script. Originally bought by RCB for a modest ₹20 lakh in 2021 and later released, Patidar made a late comeback in 2022 as an injury replacement. He immediately announced his genius to the world with an unbeaten victory against 112 Lucknow Super Giants In the Eliminator, he made history as the first wicket-taker to score a century in the IPL playoffs.
Although a severe Achilles injury ruled him out completely for the 2023 season, his fierce resistance saw him hit 395 runs in 2024. His tactical brilliance and calm demeanor earned him the captaincy ahead of the 2025 season. After two seasons, he stands tall with two trophies and leads a team that has learned to balance ultimate sporting glory with deep human empathy.
