In a thrilling, high-stakes finale at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) etched their names into the history books by defeating the Gujarat Titans (GT) by five wickets to claim the IPL 2026 championship. The victory marked a historic back-to-back title defence for the franchise. However, amidst the roaring fireworks and celebratory cheers, the evening belonged to a deeply emotional tribute led by skipper Rajat Patidar, ensuring that the triumph was anchored in remembrance rather than just revelry.
Rajat Patidar dedicates RCB’s IPL 2026 triumph to Bengaluru stampede victims
A year ago, RCB finally climbed their Everest. After 18 years of heartbreak, near-misses, and relentless jokes at their expense, they lifted their maiden IPL trophy. But what should have been the happiest moment in the franchise’s history quickly turned into a tragedy that left Bengaluru mourning. On June 4, 2025, just a day after breaking their title drought, a massive victory parade led to a fatal stampede outside the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. Thousands had gathered for a felicitation ceremony, causing crowds to swell beyond capacity. Entry points became overwhelmed, resulting in a devastating crush that claimed the lives of 11 people and injured dozens more, leaving a permanent scar on the city.
On Sunday night in Ahmedabad, as RCB became only 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, actually not fans, family members, who passed away in the tragedy last year,” a poignant Patidar stated during the post-match presentation.
Throughout the IPL 2026 season, RCB made a conscious, dignified effort to honour the victims. The team wore black armbands during their season opener, observed a minute of silence, and trained in jerseys emblazoned with the number 11. Most movingly, the franchise kept 11 seats permanently vacant at the Chinnaswamy Stadium all season as a mark of respect. By lifting the trophy once more, the team fulfilled a silent promise, proving that RCB has not forgotten its fallen family.
Patidar’s birthday gets better as he earns spot in exclusive IPL captains club
The historic victory on May 31 tasted even sweeter for Patidar, who celebrates his 33rd birthday today, June 1. Strikingly, the win catapulted him into an extraordinarily exclusive cricketing stratosphere. Patidar has now become just the third captain in IPL history, joining the legendary ranks of Rohit Sharma and MS Dhoni, to win back-to-back championships. Remarkably, he has achieved this monumental feat in his first two seasons as captain.
“It feels really good. It is the best gift because it is my birthday today, so it cannot be better than this,” Patidar smiled.
For a player whose IPL journey didn’t follow a traditional Hollywood script, this milestone marks another unbelievable chapter. Originally bought by RCB for a modest ₹20 lakh in 2021 and subsequently released, Patidar returned in 2022 as a late injury replacement. He immediately announced his genius to the world with a blistering, unbeaten 112 against Lucknow Super Giants in the Eliminator, making history as the first uncapped player to score a century in the IPL playoffs.
Though a severe Achilles injury completely sidelined him for the 2023 season, his fierce resilience saw him fight back in 2024 with 395 runs. His tactical brilliance and calm demeanour earned him the captaincy ahead of the 2025 season. Two seasons later, he stands tall with two trophies, leading a team that has learned to balance ultimate sporting glory with profound human empathy.
