TimesofIndia.com in Dharamsala: Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) captain against Gujarat Titans (GT) in IPL 2026 Qualifier 1 Rajat Patidar He said that he wants to change a perception about him that he prefers to play spinners. Instead, he believes his game suits the fast bowlers more.“I have dominated the fast bowlers more this year,” he said. There is a perception about me that I play spinners better but if anyone asks me, I always say that I prefer fast bowlers. And the numbers don’t lie. Patidar has hit 41 sixes in this year’s IPL, 27 of which have come against fast bowlers. He has scored 486 runs in 14 matches, but the numbers don’t quite capture his impact. Batting at No. 4, he scored five fifties and scored at a strike rate of 196.76.On Tuesday evening, before the laser show lit up the beautiful HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala, it was Patidar who set the stage on fire. The 32-year-old produced the most impressive knock of the season, scoring a brilliant 93 off 33 balls. It was an innings built on timing and relentless intent. He hit nine massive sixes, seven of which came against fast bowlers. Among them, the standout was an extraordinary hit by Kagiso Rabada in the seventh over. The right-hander stepped back and hit a good length delivery over maximum cover with ease. It was a stroke that perfectly summed up the confidence and authority with which he batted. Patidar’s innings did not explode immediately. He worked early, allowing the innings to settle with measured singles and calm collected, rotating strikes. At that stage, RCB had lost batsmen Devdutt Padikal and Virat Kohli for two consecutive sets. Patidar’s approach was one of patience rather than immediate aggression.His first major statement came in the 11th over when Jason Holder dropped short and Patidar quickly shifted his weight on the back foot, pulling the ball deep into the stands over midwicket. This shot not only extended RCB’s century but also released the pressure that was building.There were also moments of luck. Against Prasad Krishna in the 12th over, an attempted big shot produced an inside edge that went past Jos Buttler, and was dismissed. Soon after, Patidar survived a huge scare when a crucial edge soared over the wicketkeeper’s head and landed safely between the changing fielders. A pull shot in the same over almost ended his innings but Rabada squandered a straightforward chance in the deep.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru captain Rajat Patidar plays a shot during the Indian Premier League 2026 Qualifier 1 match against Gujarat Titans at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamshala on Tuesday. (ANI)
Those moments proved costly for GT.Patidar began to accelerate sharply in the 15th over against Kulant Khajrulia. Using the angle of the delivery brilliantly, a mistimed lofted stroke reached the ropes, before hitting a stylish six over long leg. He finished the over, again clearing the ropes and then finding the boundary, scoring 28 runs in a momentum-shifting over that swung the contest firmly.There was no relief for the spinners either.Rashid Khan, usually one of the most difficult bowlers to dominate, became Patidar’s next target. A slightly short delivery disappeared over long-on before Patidar finished with a brilliant inside-out six over cover, dancing with the spin and hitting with complete freedom.The attack against Rabada intensified. Patidar scored a brilliant fifty off just 21 balls with a brutal pull at deep midwicket and then immediately followed it up with a brilliant backfoot drive over cover. Very few batsmen attempt such a stroke against the pacer. Even fewer do it so neatly.
By this stage the Patidars seemed to be stalling.He then faced Muhammad Siraj. A wide full toss was clipped over backward point for six before another over-pitch delivery was launched for four. Patidar had entered a phase where almost every chance to score turned into a boundary.Prasad Krishna, in the final over of RCB’s innings, felt the full force of Patidar’s finishing attack. A full toss on the hips, gone over backward square leg for a six. Another great hit straight over the bowler pushed him into the nineties.
What impressed you the most about Rajat Patidar’s innings?
Patidar almost single-handedly changed the momentum of the innings. He escaped the pressure, rode his luck, and then executed both pace and spin with equal authority. Their total of 93 runs was more than that. It was a display of fearless batting.
