On June 3, 2025, Rajat Patidar etched his name into the history books by leading Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) to their maiden IPL title. In a thrilling final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, RCB overcame Punjab Kings (PBKS) to lift the trophy, ending an 18-year-long wait for glory.
When Patidar was surprisingly named captain ahead of IPL 2025, not many expected him to carry the burden of expectations on such a high-profile stage. But the young batter not only took the responsibility in stride—he delivered in historic fashion. With this win, he becomes the first RCB captain to lift the IPL trophy and only the fourth player in IPL history to win the title in his maiden season as captain.
Here’s a look at the other three elite captains who share this rare feat with Rajat Patidar:
Shane Warne (Rajasthan Royals – 2008)
In the inaugural edition of the IPL, it was expected that the spotlight would be on franchises like Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, and Kolkata Knight Riders. But Shane Warne, leading a relatively unknown and youthful Rajasthan Royals (RR) squad, stunned everyone by lifting the first-ever IPL title.
Warne’s captaincy brought out the best in several youngsters, including Ravindra Jadeja and Yusuf Pathan. His side beat Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the final at DY Patil Stadium, writing a fairy-tale script that made them the original underdog champions of the league.
Rohit Sharma (Mumbai Indians – 2013)
Mumbai Indians (MI) started their 2013 campaign under the leadership of Australian great Ricky Ponting, but midway through the season, the captaincy was handed over to Rohit Sharma. The change proved to be a masterstroke.
Under Rohit’s calm and tactical leadership, MI lifted their first-ever IPL title by defeating CSK in a low-scoring final at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. That victory marked the beginning of Rohit’s legendary captaincy era, which would go on to bring Mumbai multiple titles.
Hardik Pandya (Gujarat Titans – 2022)
When the IPL introduced two new franchises in 2022, many were curious to see how they would perform. One of them, Gujarat Titans (GT), chose Hardik Pandya as their captain—and he made an immediate impact.
Hardik’s leadership was instrumental in guiding GT to an exceptional campaign. With a mix of consistency and firepower, they topped the league stage and went on to beat the Rajasthan Royals in the final, held at their home ground—the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. It was a dream debut season as captain for Pandya, and the perfect start for the new franchise.
Now, in 2025, Rajat Patidar joins this elite list by delivering RCB their long-awaited IPL triumph.
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