Rajat Patidar has further cemented his reputation as one of the IPL’s most destructive finishers, moving past former Royal Challengers Bengaluru icon Chris Gayle to climb into third place on the list of fastest batters to reach 100 sixes in the tournament. Patidar required just 933 deliveries to get to the milestone, surpassing Gayle’s mark of 943 balls and taking him to third on the all-time chart. Only Andre Russell and Nicholas Pooran have reached the same six-hitting landmark in fewer balls.
Fastest to 100 IPL sixes
- Andre Russell: 657 balls
- Nicholas Pooran: 884 balls
- Rajat Patidar: 933 balls
- Chris Gayle: 943 balls
- Sunil Narine: 950 balls
- Shivam Dube: 992 balls
The milestone came in a high-pressure chase against Sunrisers Hyderabad, where RCB were set a challenging total of 256. Earlier in the evening, SRH’s batting unit had taken control in emphatic fashion, with Abhishek Sharma launching 56 from 22 balls, Ishan Kishan striking 79 off 44 deliveries, and Heinrich Klaasen unleashing a brutal 51 off only 24 balls. That onslaught powered Hyderabad to 255 for 4, leaving Bengaluru needing something special to stay in the hunt.
RCB chase and Patidar’s decisive burst
- RCB began the pursuit but their chances of chasing the target dimmed early, even though Venkatesh Iyer provided a lively cameo.
- As qualification permutations started to sharpen, Patidar adjusted his mindset toward the bigger picture—helping Bengaluru cross the key qualification threshold for a top-two finish.
- Patidar then played with composure, scoring 56 off 39 balls and forming a vital 84-run partnership with Krunal Pandya.
- During the innings, Patidar reached his 100th IPL six and, in doing so, broke Chris Gayle’s long-standing record for the fastest route to 100 sixes.
- One of his towering hits off Pat Cummins contributed to RCB ensuring a top-two finish officially, despite the side suffering a heavy defeat.
Patidar’s ascent as a six-hitter has been among the most talked-about developments in IPL 2026. His fearless approach against both spin and pace, along with a knack for handling pressure moments, has elevated him into one of the most threatening middle-order batsmen in the league. Surpassing a record once held by Gayle—widely regarded as one of the greatest power-hitters in IPL history—adds another layer to how significant Patidar has become for RCB.
