'A milestone I'll always cherish' - Two-time IPL-winning captain Rajat Patidar receives Honorary Doctorate

Royal Challengers Bengaluru captain Rajat Patidar received an Honorary Doctorate on September 25, 2026, days after leading RCB to a second consecutive IPL title earlier this year. The honour was conferred by Mangubhai Chhaganbhai Patel, the Governor of Madhya Pradesh, at a ceremony where Patidar appeared in traditional attire.

Patidar shared a photograph from the occasion on Instagram. In his caption, he wrote: "A moment of immense pride and gratitude. Honoured to receive an Honorary Doctorate from the Hon'ble Governor of Madhya Pradesh. A milestone I'll always cherish." RCB's official X account also highlighted the recognition, drawing considerable attention to the honour.

Patidar's IPL 2026 numbers

Patidar first guided RCB to the IPL title in 2025, ending the franchise's long wait for their maiden championship. He then steered the side to the trophy again in 2026, with RCB defeating Gujarat Titans in the final of the 19th IPL season. That victory made Patidar only the third captain in IPL history to successfully defend the title, joining MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma in that select group.

His personal numbers across IPL 2026 reflected his consistent contribution throughout the campaign. Patidar scored 501 runs in 14 innings at an average of 41.75 and a strike rate of 192.69, registering five fifties along the way.

Born on June 1, 1993, in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, Patidar is a right-handed top-order batter who can also bowl part-time right-arm off-break. He has represented Madhya Pradesh in domestic cricket since 2015 and has captained RCB in the IPL since 2025. At 33, he continues to feature across formats at the domestic and A-team level.

India A vs Australia A series context

Among his notable domestic achievements, Patidar scored a century in the 2022 Ranji Trophy final against Mumbai, helping Madhya Pradesh claim the title. At the international level, he has made one ODI appearance for India, against South Africa on December 21, 2023. He has also featured in three Test matches.

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His most recent competitive outing before the doctorate ceremony was in the Duleep Trophy 2026. Looking ahead, Patidar has been named in the India A squad for a three-match unofficial ODI series against Australia A, with all three games scheduled in Puducherry beginning October 6, 2026. Australia A are currently on a multi-format tour of India, and India A won the first match of the ongoing two-match unofficial Test series by 162 runs.