33 balls, 9 sixes, 1 dot ball, 281.82 SR: RCB captain Rajat Patidar produces all-time IPL playoff masterclass | Cricket News

Rajat Patidar (Image credit: BCCI/IPL)

NEW DELHI: Rajat Patidar is rapidly cementing his reputation as one of the most dangerous batters in IPL playoff history. The Royal Challengers Bengaluru skipper once again rose to the occasion with a sensational unbeaten 93 off just 33 deliveries against Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 1 of IPL 2026 at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala on Tuesday.Patidar’s explosive knock powered RCB to a massive 254/5 – now the highest total ever recorded in IPL knockout history – while also adding another chapter to his stunning playoff legacy. The RCB captain looked visibly charged up after being handed two lifelines in the same over by GT fielders. He dismantled the Gujarat Titans bowling attack with fearless hitting, hammering five boundaries and nine massive sixes in a breathtaking display of power batting. Remarkably, Patidar played only one dot ball during the innings – a ball that eventually resulted in a bye — underlining the dominance of his knock.His strike rate of 281.81 is now the highest by a captain in an IPL innings of 50 or more.RCB went berserk in the death overs, smashing 86 runs in the final five overs and 114 in the last six overs to take the game away 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 a memorable unbeaten 112 off 54 balls against Lucknow Super Giants in the 2022 Eliminator, followed by a crucial 58 against Rajasthan Royals in Qualifier 2 that same season. Since then, he has continued to shine 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 IPL playoff history.

Only Suresh Raina (40), MS Dhoni (28) and Kieron Pollard (25) have hit more sixes than Patidar in IPL playoffs history.Earlier, RCB got off to an aggressive start with Venkatesh Iyer attacking Mohammed Siraj before falling for 19 to Kagiso Rabada.Rabada also tested Virat Kohli with pace and bounce during an entertaining contest, but Kohli responded brilliantly with a fluent 43 off 25 balls. Alongside Devdutt Padikkal (30), Kohli helped RCB surge to 76/1 in the Powerplay.GT managed to pull things back briefly through disciplined spells from Rashid Khan and Jason Holder, who dismissed Kohli and Padikkal in quick succession.However, the contest swung dramatically in the 14th over bowled by Prasidh Krishna.Patidar, batting on 18 and later on 20, was dropped twice in the same over as GT’s fielding completely collapsed under pressure. Kulwant Khejroliya then endured a disastrous over that went for 28 runs and included misfields, two no-balls and a wide.Patidar capitalised fully on the reprieves.The RCB skipper tore into both Khejroliya and Rashid Khan, while Krunal Pandya chipped in with a valuable 43 during a rapid 95-run partnership. By the time Rabada finally dismissed Krunal, Patidar had already taken complete control of the contest.Patidar brought up his fifty with a towering six off Rabada and continued the assault till the final over, producing one of the finest innings ever witnessed in IPL playoff cricket.