'Rahul Dravid was my inspiration': Rajat Patidar on his technique against spin

Royal Challengers Bengaluru captain Rajat Patidar discussed his expertise in playing spin bowling during the latest episode of the RCB Podcast on Friday, attributing his skill development to his early days in club cricket where he played on unprepared wickets and his experiences with Madhya Pradesh's domestic cricket team.Patidar elaborated on how playing on unprepared surfaces during his club cricket days helped shape his spin-playing abilities."When I started at the club level, most games were on unprepared wickets. You did not get well-prepared surfaces, so I gradually got used to playing spin. Before my Ranji debut, we had a home-and-away format where the home team prepared the wickets. Since we had three quality spinners, we opted for spin-friendly tracks, and I knew I would be playing on a square-turner," Patidar explained.The RCB skipper revealed his dedication to mastering the sweep shot, spending three hours daily practicing the technique.Quiz: Who's that IPL player?"There was only one thought in my mind: if I had to score runs on those pitches, I needed to develop that shot. It is a shot that can put pressure on bowlers on turning tracks," he shared.Patidar acknowledged Indian batting legend Rahul Dravid as his inspiration for playing spin bowling."I saw a lot of his batting in Test matches, especially on spin tracks. The way he used his footwork, whether it was the front foot or the back foot, and how he used the crease, I got to learn a lot from him," he said.The RCB captain is currently experiencing a challenging period in his form, having scored 239 runs in 11 games and 10 innings at an average of 23.90 and a strike rate of 140.58, including two half-centuries with a highest score of 64.Royal Challengers Bengaluru currently holds the second position in the tournament with eight wins and three losses, accumulating 16 points.The team is scheduled to face defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders in their next match in Bengaluru on Saturday, marking the tournament's resumption.