Rajat Patidar produced a skipper’s innings on Tuesday night as Royal Challengers Bengaluru thrashed Gujarat Titans by 92 runs in Dharamsala. Batting first, RCB raced to 254/5 in their 20 overs, powered by Patidar’s 93 off just 33 deliveries—an explosive knock featuring five fours and nine sixes. Bengaluru then tightened the screws with the ball to restrict GT to 162, sealing a comprehensive win and booking their place in the IPL 2026 final. With the summit clash next on the agenda, RCB are now just one step away from successfully defending their title.
RCB’s big total and Patidar’s captain’s knock
RCB set the tone early, piling on runs in quick succession to reach 254/5 in 20 overs. The standout contribution came from Patidar, whose aggressive strike rate carried him to 93 off 33 balls, including a barrage of boundaries—five fours and nine maximums—at a time when GT needed breakthroughs but couldn’t find the right rhythm.
- RCB finished on 254/5 in 20 overs
- Rajat Patidar scored 93 off 33 balls
- Patidar hit five fours and nine sixes
- Gujarat Titans were restricted to 162
- RCB won by 92 runs
From batting fireworks to bowling control
After posting a commanding target, Bengaluru backed it up with disciplined bowling. The bowlers ensured Gujarat Titans never got enough momentum, taking wickets and keeping the scoring rate under pressure throughout their chase. The final outcome—GT being dismissed for 162—confirmed that RCB’s dominance wasn’t limited to their batting display.
A reunion off the field: Aryaman Birla’s message to Patidar
As RCB moved into the final, team chairman Aryaman Birla shared a special tribute to Patidar on Instagram. Posting a picture from the match, Birla captioned it with a warm greeting: “Rajat Bhai!!!!”
Birla and Patidar’s connection stretches back to 2017, when both were part of the Madhya Pradesh domestic setup and spent time together in the dressing room. Between 2017 and 2019, they even opened the innings together in multiple domestic matches.
Aryaman later stepped away from cricket to join the business world, working with Kumar Mangalam Birla’s conglomerate, the Aditya Birla Group. In 2026, RCB’s ownership was brought under a consortium led by the Aditya Birla Group—bringing Aryaman and Patidar together again. This time, Birla returned as chairman, while Patidar remained captain.
- The duo were teammates in Madhya Pradesh domestic cricket starting in 2017
- They opened the innings together in several domestic matches between 2017 and 2019
- Aryaman later left cricket to join the Aditya Birla Group
- In 2026, RCB was acquired by an Aditya Birla Group-led consortium
- Aryaman is chairman and Patidar is captain for the current setup
Patidar’s thoughts after Qualifier 1
Following the victory over GT in Qualifier 1, Patidar praised the collective effort of his team and especially highlighted the intent shown by the batters. Speaking at the post-match presentation, he said the win came from a dominant performance where everyone struck with purpose, adding that there was no rigid “clear plan” focused solely on targeting GT’s bowlers—but the team still came prepared and backed it with the right body language.
Patidar explained that during the team meeting they agreed to display aggression and attack with intent, and that attitude was visible across the batting order. “It was a super game for us,” he said, describing how the batsmen dominated and maintained momentum. He added that while it wasn’t a straightforward bowling-specific plan, RCB were ready to execute once the opportunity arrived, and the attacking mindset—and the visible confidence—was present from ball one.
