The Indian Premier League (IPL) has all the time been as a lot concerning the vibes as it’s concerning the yorkers, and the 2026 pre-season captains’ meet proved precisely that. Whereas the official photoshoot is normally a proper affair of blazers and stern expressions, the 2026 version took a hilarious flip when Delhi Capitals (DC) skipper Axar Patel crossed paths with the newly-minted Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) captain Rajat Patidar.
Axar Patel can’t take eyes off Rajat Patidar’s ‘Dhurandhar’ coiffure at IPL 2026 captains’ occasion
The spotlight of the night wasn’t the gleaming silver trophy, however moderately Patidar’s dramatic aesthetic transformation. Sporting flowing, lengthy locks, Patidar seemed much less like a middle-order batter and extra like a Bollywood protagonist. Axar, identified for his dry wit, couldn’t assist however pause the shoot to christen Patidar the “Dhurandhar Boy,” a cheeky nod to Ranveer Singh’s rugged, high-octane look within the cinematic hit Dhurandhar: The Revenge.
The change, captured in a behind-the-scenes clip that has since shattered social media engagement information, exhibits Axar circling Patidar with a glance of real disbelief. “Ye coiffure ka raaz kya hai?” (What’s the key behind this coiffure?), Axar was heard quipping, whereas Patidar, normally probably the most soft-spoken man within the room, laughed off the comparability to the silver display screen’s fiercest warrior.
Right here’s the video:
What caught Axar Patel’s eye in Rajat Patidar’s new coiffure? 👀#CaptainsDay | #TATAIPL 2026 👉 Begins SAT, twenty eighth MAR, 5:30 PM pic.twitter.com/Or3OFSddIc
— Star Sports activities (@StarSportsIndia) March 26, 2026
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Patidar’s daring imaginative and prescient for RCB’s title protection in IPL 2026
Whereas the “Dhurandhar” comparability supplied the laughs, Patidar revealed there’s a strategic—and maybe superstitious, methodology to his makeover. In a current phase of RCB Daring Diaries, the skipper addressed the viral sensation surrounding his hair with a comment that has despatched the RCB ‘twelfth Man Military’ right into a frenzy.
“I desire a photograph with this coiffure holding the trophy, it’s a brand new search for a brand new problem. We’re right here to maintain the cup in Bengaluru,” Patidar joked, although his eyes carried the depth of a defending champion.
Having led RCB to their historic maiden title the earlier yr, Patidar is beneath immense strain to ship a double. On the planet {of professional} sports activities, a change in look typically indicators a shift in mindset. For Patidar, the lengthy hair represents a warrior mode as RCB put together to fend off 9 different hungry franchises.
Because the DC and RCB captains shared a hug after their playful change, the second served as a reminder of the distinctive camaraderie inside the IPL. Whereas they are going to be fierce rivals on the pitch, the Dhurandhar banter humanizes these superstars, proving that even beneath the crushing weight of captaincy, there’s all the time room for a well-timed joke a couple of haircut.
Additionally READ: Vijay Mallya reflects on RCB’s historic ₹16,700 sale ahead of IPL 2026
