Good morning, IPL fans. If you support Royal Challengers Bengaluru, the finish line is probably feeling agonisingly distant—yet the line “ee sala kuda cup namde” keeps echoing. For Gujarat Titans supporters, Monday’s calm might have been the better option, but there’s still a route to the final. Welcome to Cricbuzz Pulse, a quick two-minute scan of the IPL scene.
Last night in five lines
- RCB, sent in to bat, piled up 254—marking the highest total in IPL playoffs.
- Captain Rajat Patidar produced one of the standout knocks of the season: 93* off 33 balls.
- On an up-and-down surface, GT dropped Patidar twice, on 14 (Khejroliya) and on 20 (Rabada), in the same Prasidh Krishna over.
- RCB’s pace unit—Duffy, Bhuvneshwar, Rasikh and Hazlewood—combined to take 8 wickets of the 10.
- GT’s chase began with a bizarre dismissal of Sai Sudharsan, and the overall chase never got momentum.
RCB’s innings didn’t just set the tone—it rewrote it. With 254 on the board, they registered the highest total in IPL playoffs, and it also powered their second straight appearance in the final.
Rajat Patidar played the kind of match-defining knock that changes a game’s temperature. On a pitch that behaved unevenly, he stayed composed and aggressive, finishing with 93 not out from 33 deliveries. Gujarat Titans, meanwhile, couldn’t quite get a hold on the key moments—Patidar was dropped twice, first on 14 (Khejroliya) and then on 20 (Rabada), both in the same Prasidh Krishna over.
From that point, GT’s main strength—pressure through their top order—was effectively disrupted early. Their top-three were dismissed inside the Powerplay, and once RCB’s bowling rhythm settled, the chase started to unravel.
RCB struck with pace from all angles using Duffy, Bhuvneshwar, Rasikh and Hazlewood. Together, they accounted for 8 of the 10 wickets, ensuring Gujarat Titans were always playing catch-up to the total.
Oh, that happened
The first wicket to fall for GT came in the most unusual fashion. Sai Sudharsan was out hit-wicket after a cut shot—his bat slipped from his hands, bounced, and then landed on top of the stumps. It was a strange dismissal that immediately set the tone for a chase chasing a record.
Pulse awards
Most-body-language award: Rajat Patidar, for talking about intent and then delivering a match-winning 93*.
Live-reaction-meme award: Virat Kohli, for reacting with visible disbelief when Patidar smashed Rabada for a six over covers.
Please-confirm-attendance award: Gujarat Titans’ middle order, expected to show up, but absent again when it mattered.
Time-travel award: Kohli once more, for transporting viewers back to Adelaide 2014 with a sharp, swivelling pull shot off Rabada.
Talking point
In a rapid-fire conversation with Cricbuzz, Patidar had previously said he enjoys batting against pace more than spin. That line now feels even more meaningful, because this knock carried both facets—comfort against spin and authority when the ball came on to him at pace.
Mo Bobat later explained that last season he had labelled Patidar a “spin basher,” a tag that “got him quite annoyed.” This season, Patidar has quietly dismantled that label, and Bobat praised his “really sound basics” and “fearless intent” after another “pretty special” performance in the Qualifier.
The innings reflected a complete T20 mindset: the spin-hitting we’ve come to expect, plus the confidence to take on pace—best captured by the back-foot six off Rabada. It also suggests the conversation around Patidar needs to move forward, away from old labels and toward what he’s proving match after match.
The chatter
Rajat Patidar said attacking GT’s bowlers wasn’t a “clear plan,” but insisted RCB wanted to communicate their approach through “body language that we are coming for you.”
Shubman Gill identified where things slipped, admitting that GT weren’t “up to the mark” when the pressure rose. He also pointed to fielding, saying it “was not at par,” and suggested those key moments cost them dearly.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar described RCB’s approach as “data informed,” but clarified they weren’t dependent on it. He also credited the “men behind the scenes” for helping him execute his plans accurately.
Stat Snack
Rajat Patidar in IPL playoffs: 6 innings, 338 runs, average 112.66, strike rate 193.14.
What is the latest gossip?
A new theory is doing the rounds: RCB’s true advantage this season might not be tactics or squad depth—it could be hair. Patidar, Tim David, Suyash, Krunal, and even Venky are mentioned, and there’s talk that other franchises are taking notes.
Birdies suggest players may soon receive informal reminders to space out haircut frequency over the next ten months, with sponsored hair-care kits potentially appearing during the offseason. The logic is simple: if long hair equals wins, nobody wants to gamble with tradition.
What’s on tonight
RR face SRH in the Eliminator, with SRH holding a 2-0 head-to-head advantage this season. SRH’s batting has been broadly strong across the lineup, with notably better returns from positions 3 and 4 compared to RR, who have relied heavily on explosive Powerplays from the Jaiswal–Sooryavanshi opening combination.
For RR, the challenge will be sustaining that early momentum in New Chandigarh. Bigger boundaries tend to slow scoring once the field spreads, turning the middle overs into a test of timing and control.
Reckless prediction for tonight’s match: A teenager will steal the spotlight on a night packed with stars.
