Rajat Patidar delivered a performance that felt tailor-made for the big moments, steering Royal Challengers Bengaluru to a second consecutive IPL final with a commanding showing in Qualifier 1. As the RCB skipper took charge at the crease, his aggressive yet controlled batting stretched the innings into a near-unplayable challenge, before the bowlers ensured Gujarat Titans never found a way back. Bengaluru’s dominant afternoon reinforced their status as serious title contenders once again.
Qualifier 1: Patidar’s match-defining knock
In Qualifier 1, Patidar produced one of the most eye-catching innings of the season, finishing unbeaten on 93 off just 33 balls. His strike rate and clean contact proved devastating as he struck five fours and nine sixes, turning the Gujarat Titans bowling plans upside down. By the time the innings ended, RCB had posted a formidable 254/5, a total that swung the contest decisively in Bengaluru’s favour even before the chase began.
The impact of Patidar’s assault was clear from the start: once the innings break arrived, Gujarat Titans were left with an enormous target to chase. RCB’s batting had done the heavy lifting, and the next phase belonged to their bowlers.
RCB’s bowlers seal it and keep the chase under control
With a steep target already looming, RCB’s pace attack struck early and maintained relentless pressure throughout the chase. Gujarat Titans, the 2022 champions, were unable to gather momentum or stage a credible recovery as wickets continued to fall at crucial stages. The defending champions ultimately completed the job in emphatic fashion, securing a dominant victory and booking their place in the final.
RCB director explains Patidar’s growth and mindset
After the win, RCB director of cricket Mo Bobat spoke about the way Patidar’s batting has evolved over the past two seasons. Bobat highlighted that Patidar has worked to prove he offers far more than just value against spin-heavy challenges, pointing out how his development reflects a broader effort within the franchise to build an aggressive, intent-driven batting identity.
Bobat also shared a light-hearted memory from last year, when he jokingly referred to Patidar as a “spin-basher”. He suggested Patidar may have taken the comment as a challenge and has since demonstrated the ability to dominate different kinds of bowling.
“I remember at some point last season I called him a spin-basher and I think he got a bit annoyed with me because I was implying it was only spin,” Bobat said with a laugh. “He’s probably trying to prove a point to me now,” he added.
Bobat further pointed to Patidar’s fearless approach and clean ball-striking as key reasons behind his rapid rise. He noted that Patidar’s improvement has been shaped not only by hard work, but also by coaching support from Dinesh Karthik and Andy Flower, who have helped refine his game and strengthen his batting fundamentals.
What Bobat credits for Patidar’s evolution
- Patidar’s consistent ability to middle the ball, whether facing pace or spin.
- Strong fundamentals across both front-foot and back-foot batting.
- A fearless intent that matches the team’s push to play more aggressively and with clear purpose.
- Coaching influence from Dinesh Karthik and Andy Flower focused on refining his overall batting craft.
Bobat summed it up by stressing how Patidar’s frequency of finding the middle of the bat is a clear positive sign for any batter’s trajectory. He also reiterated that RCB has focused on making such intent the team’s identity over the last couple of seasons.
“He’s worked incredibly hard on his game with both DK [Dinesh Karthik] and Andy [Flower]. One thing about Rajat is he middles the ball a lot. Whether it’s pace or spin, front foot or back foot, the ball hits the middle of his bat quite often. That’s usually a very good sign. He’s got really sound basics and a fearless intent. We’ve tried hard over the last couple of years to make that the identity of our team,” he added.
Previous impact: Patidar’s power vs Titans in Dharamsala
Babat also referenced Patidar’s earlier dominance over the same opposition, highlighting that the batter had smashed seven sixes against the Titans in Dharamsala. That display, combined with the ruthless finishing in Qualifier 1, helped underline how Patidar’s fearless approach is now translating into match-winning innings at the highest level.
