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RCB Skipper Patidar Seeks Blessings at Tirumala Temple Before CSK Clash

Royal Challengers Bengaluru captain Rajat Patidar and wicketkeeper Jitesh Sharma visited the Tirumala temple seeking blessings ahead of their IPL 2026 match against Chennai Super Kings. The visit follows a ritual from last season, which preceded RCB's victory over CSK and their eventual maiden IPL title win. Patidar is in good touch, having scored a quick 31 in the opening win against Sunrisers Hyderabad, while Jitesh will look to bounce back after a duck. The defending champions are currently third in the points table after comfortably chasing 202 runs in their first match.

Key Points: RCB's Patidar, Jitesh Visit Tirumala Temple Ahead of IPL 2026 CSK Match

  • RCB captain visits temple before CSK match
  • Patidar in good form after becoming father
  • Jitesh Sharma dropped from T20 WC squad
  • RCB won opener chasing 202 runs
  • Defending champions third in points table
2 min read

IPL 2026: RCB skipper Rajat Patidar, Jitesh Sharma visit Tirumala temple ahead of CSK clash

RCB captain Rajat Patidar and Jitesh Sharma visited Tirumala temple for blessings before their IPL 2026 match against CSK. Read about their form and RCB's title defense.

"Patidar and Jitesh had previously visited the spiritual place last year, ahead of the CSK clash in which RCB came victorious and went on to clinch the title for the first time in IPL history."

Tirupati, April 4

Royal Challengers Bengaluru captain Rajat Patidar, along with wicketkeeper batter Jitesh Sharma, offered prayers at the sacred Tirumala temple on Saturday ahead of the team's next match against the five-time champions Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League 2026 at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Sunday.

Perched atop the Seshachalam Hills in Andhra Pradesh, the Venkateswara Temple at Tirumala is one of Hinduism's most revered shrines. Dedicated to Lord Venkateswara- an incarnation of Vishnu- the temple welcomes over 24 million pilgrims annually.

Patidar and Jitesh had previously visited the spiritual place last year, ahead of the CSK clash in which RCB came victorious and went on to clinch the title for the first time in IPL history.

Patidar, who recently became a father, looked in great touch in the opening match of the RCB played against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on March 28.

The skipper came to bat at number 4 and played a dominating knock of 31 runs, which came off just 12 balls. His innings included two boundaries and three maximums. While Jitesh, who was dropped from India's T20 World Cup 2026 squad, failed to capitalise on the opportunity to finish the game, as he went out on a duck.

Despite Jitesh getting out early, RCB chased down the mammoth 202-run target easily in just 15.4 overs with Virat Kohli remaining unbeaten at 69.

Earlier, Jacob Duffy, who came in place of Josh Hazlewood as the Australian pacer, who is currently recovering, took three crucial wickets in the powerplay and gave away just 22 runs in four overs. While Romario Shepherd also took three wickets as SRH scored 201 runs in 20 overs while losing nine wickets.

With this win, the defending champions are currently placed at number three in the IPL 2026 points table with a good net run rate of +2907. While the Punjab Kings are at the top with two wins in two matches, and the Rajasthan Royals are at second with one win and a +4.171 net run rate.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

S
Shreya B
While faith is personal, I hope the team's focus remains on strategy and practice. Cricket matches are won on the field, not just by prayers. Jitesh needs to convert his chances, especially after the World Cup snub.
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Vikram M
Tirumala is a powerful place. Wishing the team all the best. Patidar's form is crucial, and as a new father, he must be feeling blessed. Hope he smashes CSK bowling like he did against SRH!
A
Ananya R
As a CSK fan from Chennai, I appreciate the gesture! 🕉️ It shows humility. But on the field, we are ready for a tough fight. Dhoni legacy vs Kohli magic continues! Should be a great match.
K
Karthik V
The mental peace from such visits is underrated. High-pressure tournament, these boys are under constant scrutiny. A calm mind can make a big difference in those crunch moments. All the best to both teams!
J
Jessica F
Interesting cultural insight! The mix of modern sport and ancient tradition is something unique to India. The stats from the first match look solid for RCB. That net run rate is impressive.

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