Virat Kohli’s visible reaction from the dugout turned into one of the standout moments of the night after Rajat Patidar struck a breathtaking six during Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s Qualifier One against Gujarat Titans in the Indian Premier League at Dharamsala on Tuesday. The fireworks were already building when Patidar reached his half-century off 21 balls, smashing Kagiso Rabada for a six in the 17th over. The very next delivery brought another signature hit: Rabada pitched it on a good length outside off, but Patidar stayed deep in his stance and dispatched the ball over cover for his second consecutive maximum. Kohli, watching from the benches, looked genuinely startled at the timing and placement, and his reaction spread quickly across social media.
Patidar then carried that momentum to the end of the innings, finishing unbeaten on 93 off just 33 balls. His total included five fours and nine sixes, as RCB posted a massive 254/5. Along the way, he also piled on 28 runs in an over bowled by left-arm seamer Kulwant Khejroliya. Kohli and Krunal Pandya both contributed 43 runs apiece, ensuring Bengaluru’s innings stayed aggressive even when the bowlers tried to tighten the contest.
The knock proved decisive not only for the sheer scoring, but also for how Patidar survived moments that could have changed the match. He benefited from two dropped catches and went on to transform the innings—RCB adding 114 runs in their final six overs. That late acceleration turned a competitive start into a chase-or-bust situation for Gujarat.
RCB’s innings had begun with intent. Venkatesh Iyer immediately went after Mohammed Siraj, striking three boundaries early to put pressure on the Gujarat Titans. He reached 19 before Rabada struck, dismissing him after Venkatesh had been hit for a six. Rabada then kept testing batters with pace and bounce, troubling Kohli as well, though the former RCB captain still managed a rapid 43. With Devdutt Padikkal contributing 30, Kohli helped the side move to 76/1 during the powerplay, setting a platform for the middle overs to build.
Gujarat fought back in the middle phase through disciplined bowling. Rashid Khan maintained tight lines, and then Jason Holder delivered a quick double blow, removing Kohli and Padikkal within the span of three balls. It could have disrupted Bengaluru’s momentum, and for a period it did—until the match swung again.
Kulwant started the spell well, but the turning point arrived in the 14th over when Patidar, coming in at 18 and then 20, was dropped twice off Prasidh Krishna. Almost immediately after those missed chances, Gujarat’s fielding slipped further, and Kulwant became expensive: he conceded 28 runs in that over, which included misfields, two no-balls, and a wide. Patidar seized the opportunity, attacking both Kulwant and Rashid, while Krunal supported him strongly. Together they stitched a 95-run partnership, with Krunal contributing 43 before Rabada ended the stand. By then, however, the damage was done and RCB had already seized control.
From that point onward, Patidar continued to attack through the remaining overs, sustaining the pace of the chase-proof total. In the end, the defending champions finished with what became the highest score in IPL playoff history, a total underlined by Patidar’s explosive finishing and the late surge that defined the innings.
