Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) Rajat Patidar picked his all-time favourite bowler and named an all-time IPL playing eleven ahead of the 2027 season. Patidar, under whose leadership RCB won back-to-back titles in 2025 and 2026, made some shocking selections while he was asked to find out the best in 1v1 comparisons.
Through sets of 1v1 comparisons, Rajat Patidar got to express this preference and likeables on the for the bowling segment. Speaking on the Sports Launchpad channel, the RCB skipper firstly dismissed Australian legendary bowler Glenn McGrath to pick former South Africa fast bowler Dale Steyn, who played for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the IPL before.
Rajat Patidar faces difficulties choosing one between Dale Steyn and Yuzvendra Chahal
With the discussion, it is now clear that to Patidar, Steyn is one of the few bowlers he admires the most. Rajat Patidar remains firm with the Proteas seamer, dodging Muttiah Muralitharan, Shane Warne, Anil Kumble, Harbhajan Singh, and Kuldeep Yadav. But surprisingly snubbed Dale Steyn as soon as Yuzvendra Chahal joined the comparisons. The Madhya Pradesh-born preferred to go with Chahal over Steyn.
Australian spinner Adam Zampa also could not stand against the Indian spinner in the debate. But Patidar had to leave Yuzvendra Chahal behind as he chose Team India spinner Varun Chakravarthy as his next favourite bowler. Varun Chakravarthy, however, did not stay long in the conversation because of Sunil Narine, Varun’s Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) teammate in the IPL. Therefore, according to Patidar, Sunil Narine is the best T20 bowler of all time.
Rajat Patidar named an all-time IPL playing XI with three RCB legends
After picking the all-time best bowler, Patidar picked his favourite all-time IPL playing combination as well. The team he selected contains all three legends of the franchise: Chris Gayle, Virat Kohli, and AB de Villiers.
Yuzvendra Chahal and Dale Steyn also played in the league for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru, but they are not recognized as the legends of the team. Interestingly, Patidar did not mention himself in the all-time playing XI, after winning two back-to-back IPL titles in two consecutive seasons for the red and black team.
For the opening slots, Patidar chose Gayle and Virat, and for the No.3 batting spot, he went with the Mumbai Indians star and the former Team India captain Suryakumar Yadav. For the fourth and fifth batting spots, the Indian batter mentioned former Suresh Raina and AB de Villiers, respectively.
Only one specialist all-rounder in Rajat Patidar’s favourite IPL playing XI
Patidar chose only one all-rounder in his team, that is Hardik Pandya. For the wicketkeeping duties, there is MS Dhoni, and for bowling, Patidar named Dale Steyn, Jasprit Bumrah, Yuzvendra Chahal, and Sunil Narine. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who played key roles in RCB’s both triumhpant seasons, was also not picked for the team.
Rajat Patidar picked his all-time IPL XI:
Chris Gayle, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Suresh Raina, AB de Villiers, Hardik Pandya, MS Dhoni, Dale Steyn, Jasprit Bumrah, Yuzvendra Chahal, Sunil Narine.