Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) captain Rajat Patidar, accompanied by wicketkeeper batter Jitesh Sharma, sought blessings at the revered Tirumala temple in preparation for their upcoming match against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026. The Venkateswara Temple in Tirumala, nestled atop the Seshachalam Hills in Andhra Pradesh, attracts millions of devotees annually and is dedicated to Lord Venkateswara, an incarnation of Vishnu. Patidar and Jitesh had visited the temple last year before a match against CSK, which RCB won, leading to their first IPL title victory.
Patidar, who recently became a father, showcased excellent form in RCB’s previous match against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on March 28. Batting at number 4, he played a remarkable innings of 31 runs off just 12 balls, including two boundaries and three maximums. On the other hand, Jitesh, who missed selection for India’s T20 World Cup 2026 squad, was unable to make an impact as he got out without scoring.
Despite Jitesh’s early dismissal, RCB successfully chased down a challenging target of 202 runs in only 15.4 overs, with Virat Kohli finishing unbeaten on 69. The team’s victory placed them third in the IPL 2026 points table with an impressive net run rate of +2907, trailing Punjab Kings and Rajasthan Royals.
