In a thrilling, high-stakes finale at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) registered his name in the history books by defeating Gujarat Titans (GT) Claim victory by five wickets ipl 2026 championship. The win marks back-to-back historic title defenses for the franchise. However, amidst loud fireworks and celebratory cheers, the evening was a deeply emotional tribute led by Captain Rajat Patidarensuring that victory was based on remembrance rather than mere celebration.
Rajat Patidar dedicates RCB’s IPL 2026 win to Bengaluru stampede victims
A year ago, RCB finally climbed Everest. After 18 years of heartbreaks, near-misses and constant jokes at his expense, he won his first IPL trophy. But what should have been the happiest moment in the franchise’s history soon turned into a tragedy that left Bengaluru in mourning. On June 4, 2025, just a day after breaking their title drought, a huge victory parade led to a deadly stampede outside the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. Thousands of people had gathered for a felicitation ceremony, due to which the crowd swelled beyond capacity. The entry points were flooded, resulting in a catastrophic accident that took the lives of 11 people and injured dozens, leaving a permanent mark on the city.
On Sunday night in Ahmedabad, when RCB became the third team in IPL history to successfully defend their crown, Patidar made sure those 11 supporters were not forgotten.
“We dedicate this trophy to our fans, not actually fans, but family members who passed away in tragedy last year” said a poignant Patidar during the post-match presentation.
Throughout the IPL 2026 season, RCB made a conscious, respectful effort to honor the victims. The team wore black armbands during its season opener, observed a minute’s silence and trained wearing jerseys bearing the number 11. Most interestingly, the franchise kept 11 seats permanently vacant at the Chinnaswamy Stadium throughout the season as a mark of respect. By lifting the trophy once again, the team fulfilled a silent promise, proving that RCB has not forgotten its fallen family.
Also read: Complete list of IPL Emerging Player Award winners, Vaibhav Suryavanshi
Patidar’s birthday gets better as he gets a place in the exclusive IPL captains club
The taste of the historic victory on May 31 became even sweeter for Patidar, who is celebrating his 33rd birthday today on June 1. Amazingly, this win catapulted him into an exceptionally elite circle of cricketers. Patidar has now become the third captain to join the legendary captains in IPL history. Rohit Sharma And ms dhoniTo win back-to-back championships. Remarkably, he has achieved this huge feat in his first two seasons as captain.
“It feels really good. This is the best gift because today is my birthday so nothing can be better than thisPatidar smiled.
For a player whose IPL journey did not follow the traditional Hollywood script, this milestone marks another incredible chapter. Originally bought by RCB for a nominal ₹20 lakh in 2021 and later released, Patidar returned as a late injury replacement in 2022. He immediately announced his talent to the world by playing a stormy inning of 112 not out. Lucknow Super Giants In the eliminator, created history as the first uncapped player to score a century in the IPL playoffs.
Although a serious Achilles injury sidelined him completely for the 2023 season, his fierce flexibility helped him fight back with 395 runs in 2024. His tactical genius and calm demeanor earned him the captaincy ahead of the 2025 season. Two seasons later, he stands with two trophies, leading a team that has learned to balance supreme sporting glory with deep human empathy.
Also read: Fans rejoiced as Virat Kohli led RCB to two consecutive IPL titles with a stunning win over GT.
