'I was constantly under the microscope. Eventually, I had to ask myself if I was still happy. If I wanted to continue, I needed to find that joy again.'
Newly-appointed Royal Challengers Bengaluru captain Rajat Patidar on Thursday said he would want to pick talisman Virat Kohli's brains to learn the nuances of leadership and stressed on the importance of "standing with players" in all circumstances.
Former Indian cricketer Suresh Raina believes Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) are the favourites to defend their Indian Premier League (IPL) title in 2026. He also acknowledged Rajasthan Royals and Gujarat Titans as strong contenders.
Virat Kohli discusses his time as captain of the Indian Test cricket team and how a shared sense of responsibility among players contributed to their success.
Devdutt Padikkal credits his captaincy experience with Karnataka for enhancing his game awareness and contributing to his development as a T20 batter. He also praised Virat Kohli's intensity and the supportive environment at Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru's director of cricket, Mo Bobat, attributes the team's IPL success to a 'hunter mindset' that prevents complacency after their previous trophy win. This psychological shift has been key to maintaining motivation and focus.
RCB director Mo Bobat calls Virat Kohli's 18-year IPL record "ridiculous", says building a championship-winning team around him was a priority, and backs Rajat Patidar's leadership as the franchise eyes back-to-back titles.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru head coach Andy Flower believes Virat Kohli's unwavering drive and fitness will be crucial for the team's IPL 2026 campaign.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru beat Lucknow Super Giants by five wickets in an Indian Premier League match in Bengaluru.
Even the great Kohli could only watch in pure admiration as Devedutt Padikkal set the stage on fire to power RCB to an emphatic victory.
Kolkata Knight Riders captain Ajinkya Rahane was forced to leave the field during their IPL match against Mumbai Indians due to apparent cramps, with Rinku Singh taking over the captaincy.
Kumar Sangakkara explains the decision to appoint Riyan Parag as captain of the Rajasthan Royals, highlighting his maturity and vision for the team.
Virat Kohli has acknowledged the positive influence of Rahul Dravid and Vikram Rathour in helping him rediscover his passion for cricket after a difficult period following his departure from the India captaincy.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru has become the first team to hold both the IPL and WPL titles simultaneously.
Indian cricketer Suryakumar Yadav and his wife Devisha Shetty have welcomed a baby girl. The Mumbai Indians star's availability for the next IPL match is uncertain due to paternity leave.
"Shreyas Iyer's contribution as leader got diluted...": Aakash Chopra Shreyas Iyer's captaincy record praised, but recognition still limited
Every team circles its opponent like a hawk, waiting to expose the slightest weakness.
Gujarat Titans' Anuj Rawat discusses the importance of preparation and mental freshness in the IPL, praising Shubman Gill's leadership and Matthew Hayden's coaching.
'I just want to have a lot of fun and just enjoy myself on the field and give myself fully to this team, like I have for so many years, without any load.'
Former India opener Virender Sehwag has revealed why Delhi Daredevils chose Pradeep Sangwan over a young Virat Kohli ahead of the inaugural Indian Premier League season in 2008.
Former India opener and two-time IPL champion skipper Gautam Gambhir believes Virat Kohli's non-performance as Royal Challengers Bangalore captain should lead to his removal from the hot seat as it is now a question of accountability.
Delhi Capitals' Director of Cricket, Y Venugopala Rao, commended David Miller and Tristan Stubbs for their match-winning performances against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in a recent IPL match. He also addressed concerns about Axar Patel's fitness and praised his all-round performance.
Chennai Super Kings team management must work on keeping a "hurting" dressing room in good spirits to arrest the slide, Indian spin legend Ravichandran Ashwin said.
Chennai Super Kings suffered a damaging defeat to Lucknow Super Giants as Mitchell Marsh, Nicholas Pooran and Akash Singh exposed tactical flaws and pushed CSK to the brink of IPL 2026 playoff elimination.
Sunrisers Hyderabad and Gujarat Titans prepare for a critical IPL showdown that could prove pivotal in shaping the playoff race.
Having retained the majority of their squad, MI will be the team to beat given their formidable batting, but Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Delhi Capitals will be out to spoil their party.
Virat Kohli expresses satisfaction with his performance despite fitness concerns as Royal Challengers Bengaluru secures a win against Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL. He also praises Rajat Patidar's aggressive batting and discusses the evolving demands of T20 cricket.
Since the inaugural edition of IPL in 2008, only four cricketers have played a match in all 18 IPL seasons.
Devdutt Padikkal's explosive 61 off 26 balls in the IPL 2026 opener against Sunrisers Hyderabad showcased a significant transformation in his batting style, earning widespread praise and solidifying his position as a top white-ball talent.
A recap of the action of the second week of IPL 2026.
Why didn't KKR's 25.20 crore buy Green bowl? Irked Rahane says "Ask Cricket Australia "
Faf du Plessis acknowledges Gautam Gambhir's competitive leadership style, highlighting its positive impact on teams like Kolkata Knight Riders. He emphasises Gambhir's high standards and accountability, noting the importance of strong leadership beyond just the captain's role in franchise cricket.
Ajinkya Rahane and Angkrish Raghuvanshi scored half-centuries as Kolkata Knight Riders posted a total of 220 for 4 against Mumbai Indians in their IPL match.
Tejal Hasanbis's impactful half-century and Prema Rawat's leg-spin helped India A defeat Bangladesh A by 46 runs in the ACC Women's Asia Cup Rising Stars final.
Gujarat Titans' star players Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan, Jos Buttler, Rashid Khan and Kagiso Rabada will be looking to revive their international careers with strong performances in IPL 2026.
England will be heading into the T20 World Cup with a massive confidence boost following a series win across both white-ball formats in Sri Lanka under captaincy of young Harry Brook, who has switched his side's fortunes since taking over.
Rajat Patidar's astute captaincy has been apparent throughout this season, be it bowling changes or field placements, he has been spot on. Unlike other franchises where captaining big egos has not sat well with certain players, Patidar has commanded the respect of his senior India as well as international team-mates.
Speaking on RCB Podcast, Patidar said of his captaincy journey: 'I had a lot of questions like, there are so many (big players) in the team. Virat Kohli is such a big player, how will you do it under him. I know how supportive he is about this (captaincy change).
RCB's success so far in IPL 2025 hasn't just rested on Kohli and Hazlewood.
This is only the second time that Punjab Kings reached the IPL final, while it is the fourth time that RCB have made it to the title clash.
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