Rajat Patidar names RCB legend as best T20 batter of all time, snubs Rohit Sharma and AB de Villiers

Royal Challengers Bangalore captain Rajat Patidar has picked Chris Gayle as the greatest T20 batter of all time. Patidar chose a conversation during a YouTube conversation in the ‘Winner Stays On’ segment on September 4, 2026. The RCB captain was given a list of some of the biggest names in T20 cricket and had to select one batter at each stage.

In the opening round of the Sports Launchpad's segment, Patidar chose Rohit Sharma over Jos Buttler, Suresh Raina, Faf du Plessis, Shane Watson, Glenn Maxwell and David Warner. However, Rohit’s run came to an end in the next round, as Patidar opted for AB de Villiers over the Indian opener.

Patidar continued to back de Villiers in the following rounds, picking the South African legend ahead of Sachin Tendulkar, Sanath Jayasuriya, Matthew Hayden and MS Dhoni to reach the final.

In the showdown, Patidar chose Chris Gayle over AB de Villiers, crowning the West Indies legend as his pick for the best T20 batter in history.

Gayle's T20 career statistics

Gayle accumulated 14,562 runs at an average of 36.22 and a strike rate of 144.75 in T20 cricket, including 88 fifties and 22 centuries. His impact in the Indian Premier League was particularly significant, where he amassed 4,965 runs in 142 games with 31 fifties and six centuries.

For RCB specifically, Gayle scored 3,163 runs in 85 games at an average of 43.33 and a strike rate of 152.73, with 19 fifties and five centuries. Gayle's performances in the franchise colours made him one of the most decorated overseas players in IPL history.

‘If your idol backs you, you don't need anything more’: Patidar on Kohli’s support

Patidar also opened up about his bond with Virat Kohli, calling it a privilege to inherit the RCB captaincy from one of the franchise’s most iconic players.

"If your idol backs you, then you don't need anything more. You don't need anyone else's support. I used to notice everything about him when he batted. I mean, from what he did on the ground to what his routine was like off the field, I noticed everything. Later, I came to know that he had backed me a lot, including when it came to the captaincy. It is not easy to give someone the captaincy of an RCB team, considering the number of fans and the expectations. He must have seen something in me, I don't know what, but I have received a lot of support from him in the team," said Patidar.