33 balls, 9 sixes, 1 dot ball, 281.82 SR: RCB skipper Rajat Patidar produced an all-time IPL playoff masterclass. Cricket News

Rajat Patidar (Image credit: BCCI/IPL)

New Delhi: Rajat Patidar is fast cementing his reputation as one of the most dangerous batsmen in IPL playoff history. The Royal Challengers Bengaluru captain once again scored a sensational unbeaten 93 off just 33 balls against Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 1 of IPL 2026 at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamshala on Tuesday.Patidar’s explosive knock propelled RCB to a massive 254/5 – the highest total ever recorded in the IPL’s knockout history – while adding another chapter to their glorious playoff legacy. After being given two lifelines in a single over by GT Fielders, the RCB skipper looked charged. He decimated the Gujarat Titans’ bowling attack with fearless hitting, hitting five fours and nine big sixes in a brilliant display of power batting. Notably, Patidar bowled just one dot ball during the innings – a ball that eventually resulted in a bye – underscoring the dominance of his knock.His strike rate of 281.81 is now the highest by a captain in 50 or more IPL innings.RCB showed boldness in the death overs scoring 86 runs in the last five overs and 114 runs in the last six overs to take away the game from Gujarat Titans.Patidar’s playoff record now speaks for itself. In six IPL playoff innings, he has scored 338 runs at an astonishing average of 112.66 and a strike rate of 193.14. His tally includes one century, two fifties, 25 fours and 24 sixes.His incredible playoff journey began with an unbeaten 112 off 54 balls against Lucknow Supergiants in the 2022 Eliminator, followed by a crucial 58 against Rajasthan Royals in Qualifier 2 in the same season. Since then, he has shone in knockout matches against Rajasthan Royals, Punjab Kings and now Gujarat Titans.Only Suresh Raina (40), MS Dhoni (28) and Kieron Pollard (25) have hit more sixes than Patidar in the history of the IPL playoffs.

Only Suresh Raina (40), MS Dhoni (28) and Kieron Pollard (25) have hit more sixes than Patidar in the history of the IPL playoffs.Earlier, RCB got off to an aggressive start as Venkatesh Iyer attacked Mohammad Siraj and fell to Kagiso Rabada for 19 runs.Rabada also tested. Virat Kohli With pace and bounce throughout an entertaining contest, Kohli responded brilliantly with a 25-ball 43. Along with Devdutt Padikal (30), Kohli helped RCB to 76/1 in the powerplay.GT managed to pull things back briefly through the discipline of Rashid Khan and Jason Holder, who dismissed Kohli and Pedicle back-to-back.However, the contest was thrown away in dramatic fashion by Prasad Krishna in the 14th over.Batting on 18 and later 20, Patidar was dropped twice in the same over as GT’s fielding completely collapsed under the pressure. Kulant Khajrulia then endured a disastrous over that went for 28 runs and included a misfield, two no-balls and a wide.Patidars took full advantage of the revival.The RCB skipper tore apart both Khajrulia and Rashid Khan, while Krunal Pandya scored a valuable 43 runs during a quick-fire partnership of 95 runs. By the time Rabada finally dismissed the Colonel, Patidar had already taken complete control of the contest.Patidar completed his fifty with a towering six off Rabada and continued the onslaught till the last over, witnessing one of the best innings ever in IPL playoff cricket.