Rajat Patidar Archives - Daily Tips

RCB Crush Gujarat Titans by 92 Runs in IPL 2026 Qualifier 1 — Rajat Patidar’s 93 off 33 Balls Powers Defending Champions to Final

Gaurav Thakur — Wed, 27 May 2026 08:37:44 +0000

Patidar’s Nine-Six Blitz Propels RCB to Second Consecutive IPL Final

Royal Challengers Bengaluru produced one of the most dominant playoff performances in Indian Premier League history on Tuesday, demolishing Gujarat Titans by a staggering 92 runs in Qualifier 1 at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala. Captain Rajat Patidar was the architect of destruction, blazing an extraordinary unbeaten 93 off just 33 deliveries with nine sixes and four boundaries to power the defending champions to a mammoth 254 for 5 in their allotted 20 overs.

Gujarat Titans, who had won the toss and opted to field first hoping that early moisture in the Dharamsala pitch would assist their seamers, were left utterly shellshocked as Patidar and the RCB batting lineup tore their bowling attack to shreds. The target of 255 proved far too daunting for Shubman Gill’s side, who were bowled out for 162 in 19.3 overs, bringing a premature end to their campaign and sending RCB into the IPL 2026 final where they will defend their title on May 31.

Patidar’s Masterclass Rewrites Record Books

Walking in at number four after the fall of the second wicket, Patidar took just three balls to find his range before embarking on a batting exhibition that will be talked about for years. His 93 off 33 balls represented a strike rate of 281.81 and included seven sixes off pace bowlers, underscoring his preference for taking on fast bowling rather than spin. In the post-match presentation, Patidar revealed that he had spoken to the team management about targeting the shorter boundary at the mountain end of the ground.

The RCB captain now has 486 runs in 14 matches this season at a phenomenal strike rate of 196.76, with 41 sixes to his name. His tally of 41 maximums is the highest by any batter in IPL 2026 so far, with 27 of those coming against fast bowlers. The performance also placed Patidar alongside MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma in an exclusive IPL captaincy record, becoming only the third captain to score 90 or more runs in a playoff match while leading his team to victory.

The pre-match analysis had predicted a competitive contest given Gujarat’s strong recent form, but few anticipated the sheer one-sidedness of the encounter once Patidar got going.

RCB’s Innings: A Total Built on Explosive Middle-Order Batting

RCB’s innings of 254 for 5 was built on contributions across the batting order, though Patidar’s late onslaught was the defining feature. Virat Kohli provided a typically brisk start at the top, making 38 off 26 balls before being dismissed in the seventh over trying to accelerate against the spin of Rashid Khan. Faf du Plessis contributed a quick-fire 29 off 18 balls in an opening partnership of 56 that set the platform.

The middle overs saw RCB consolidate through a measured 42 off 30 balls from Glenn Maxwell, who rotated strike efficiently before perishing to a slower ball in the 15th over. However, it was the final five overs that truly broke Gujarat’s spirit. Patidar and Dinesh Karthik, who made an unbeaten 31 off 14 balls, added 87 runs in the death overs at a staggering run rate of 17.4 per over. Gujarat’s death bowler Mohammed Shami conceded 52 runs in his final two overs as Patidar targeted his length relentlessly.

The total of 254 is the third-highest score in IPL playoff history and the highest-ever at the Dharamsala venue, surpassing Punjab Kings’ 232 against Rajasthan Royals in 2024.

Gujarat’s Chase Falters Against RCB’s Disciplined Bowling

Chasing an imposing 255, Gujarat Titans needed a blistering start from their top order, but RCB’s bowling attack ensured the chase never gained momentum. Josh Hazlewood struck with the new ball in the second over, removing Wriddhiman Saha for 4 with a delivery that nipped back off the seam. Captain Shubman Gill battled hard for 41 off 28 balls, hitting three sixes in an attempt to keep Gujarat in the hunt, but his dismissal in the ninth over to Wanindu Hasaranga effectively ended the contest.

From 72 for 3 after eight overs, Gujarat needed over 18 runs per over from the remaining 12 overs, a task that proved insurmountable. David Miller provided a brief flicker of resistance with 33 off 22 balls, but wickets fell at regular intervals as the required run rate climbed beyond reach. Hasaranga was the pick of the RCB bowlers with figures of 3 for 28 from his four overs, while Hazlewood finished with 2 for 31.

What This Means for the IPL 2026 Final

RCB’s comprehensive victory means they advance directly to the IPL 2026 final, scheduled for May 31 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. The defending champions will await the winner of the Eliminator and Qualifier 2 matches. The Rajasthan Royals, who qualified for the playoffs by beating Mumbai Indians in the final league match, face Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Eliminator on Wednesday in Mullanpur.

For Gujarat Titans, this is not the end of the road yet. They will face the loser of the Eliminator in Qualifier 2 on Friday for one last shot at making the final. Captain Gill acknowledged after the match that his team was outplayed comprehensively but insisted they would regroup for what he described as a must-win encounter.

The elimination of Chennai Super Kings earlier in the league stage means a new dynamic in the playoffs, with RCB looking to become the first team to win back-to-back IPL titles since the now-defunct Deccan Chargers and Mumbai Indians achieved the feat in different eras of the tournament.

Key Match Statistics

The match threw up several notable statistical milestones. RCB’s margin of victory of 92 runs is the fourth-largest in IPL playoff history. Patidar’s nine sixes in a single playoff innings is a new IPL record, surpassing Chris Gayle’s eight sixes in the 2012 eliminator. The combined tally of 17 sixes hit by RCB in their innings is also a playoff record for any team in a single innings.

The result also means that RCB have now won seven consecutive matches dating back to the league stage, the longest active winning streak in the tournament. Their net run rate of plus 1.024 is the highest among the remaining four teams, giving them a significant psychological advantage heading into the final.

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The post RCB Crush Gujarat Titans by 92 Runs in IPL 2026 Qualifier 1 — Rajat Patidar’s 93 off 33 Balls Powers Defending Champions to Final appeared first on Daily Tips.

SRH Beat RCB by 55 Runs in IPL 2026 Match 67 but Joy for Bengaluru as They Seal First Place in Points Table

Gaurav Thakur — Sat, 23 May 2026 08:03:00 +0000

Sunrisers Hyderabad Post Mammoth 255/4 at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium

Match 67 of the Indian Premier League 2026 delivered one of the most entertaining encounters of the season as Sunrisers Hyderabad demolished Royal Challengers Bengaluru by 55 runs at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad on 22 May 2026. However, the final result told only half the story, as RCB had the last laugh by securing first place on the IPL 2026 points table despite the heavy defeat, needing only 166 runs to guarantee the top spot by virtue of their superior net run rate.

Opting to bat first after winning the toss, Sunrisers Hyderabad unleashed a batting masterclass that will be remembered as one of the finest team performances in IPL history. The home side posted a colossal 255 for 4 in their allotted 20 overs, a total that required extraordinary hitting from top to bottom of the order. The Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium has earned a reputation as a run-scoring paradise this season, and the Sunrisers exploited every inch of its flat deck and short boundaries.

Ishan Kishan’s Magnificent 79 Anchors Record-Breaking Innings

The star of the innings was undoubtedly Ishan Kishan, who played a sensational knock of 79 runs that combined explosive power with calculated aggression. Kishan set the tone from the very first over, dispatching the opening bowlers with a string of boundaries that immediately put the RCB attack on the back foot. His innings provided the backbone around which the rest of the Sunrisers batting unit constructed their massive total.

Kishan’s knock was particularly impressive for the way he paced his innings. Rather than going all out from ball one, he built steadily through the powerplay before unleashing a devastating assault in the middle and death overs. His ability to rotate strike and find boundaries at will made him nearly impossible to contain, and he departed only on the final ball of the innings when Rasikh Dar finally found a way through his defence.

Complementing Kishan at the top of the order was the explosive Abhishek Sharma, who blitzed his way to a breathtaking 56 off just 22 balls. Sharma’s innings was a whirlwind of clean hitting, featuring towering sixes over midwicket and straight down the ground that left the RCB fielders as mere spectators. His strike rate of over 254 set the platform for the carnage that followed, and his partnership with Kishan effectively took the game away from RCB within the first ten overs.

Heinrich Klaasen, the South African wicketkeeper-batsman who has become one of the most destructive middle-order batsmen in IPL history, maintained the onslaught with a quickfire 51 off 24 deliveries. Klaasen’s ability to hit boundaries in the death overs is well documented, and he did not disappoint, smashing four sixes in a devastating spell that pushed the Sunrisers total well beyond the 250-run mark. His cameo ensured that every RCB bowler finished with an economy rate well in excess of 12 runs per over.

RCB’s Strategic Chase Secures First Place Despite Defeat

Chasing 256 to win, RCB found themselves in an unusual position. They knew that a victory was highly unlikely given the enormity of the target, but they also knew that they only needed to score 166 runs in their 20 overs to guarantee first place on the points table regardless of the match result. This mathematical equation fundamentally altered the nature of the chase and turned it into a strategic exercise rather than a desperate run chase.

RCB’s batsmen approached the task with remarkable composure. Rajat Patidar anchored the innings with a composed half-century that ensured the scoring rate never dropped below the required threshold. His innings of 50-plus was a masterclass in calculated batting under unusual circumstances, as he balanced the need to score briskly against the risk of losing wickets and falling short of the crucial 166-run mark.

Venkatesh Iyer contributed a vital 44 runs that kept the chase on track through the middle overs, while Krunal Pandya remained unbeaten with 41 to guide RCB past the all-important milestone. The team eventually finished on 200 for 4 in their 20 overs, falling 55 runs short of the Sunrisers total but comfortably surpassing the target they actually needed to hit. The scene at the end was one of celebration in the RCB camp despite appearing on the wrong side of the scorecard.

IPL 2026 Playoff Picture Takes Shape

With RCB confirmed in first place, the IPL 2026 playoff race now enters its most dramatic phase. Sunrisers Hyderabad’s emphatic victory keeps their hopes alive, but their qualification still depends on other results going their way. The remaining league matches will determine which four teams progress to the knockout stages, with Rajasthan Royals, Punjab Kings, Kolkata Knight Riders, and Delhi Capitals all still mathematically in contention for the remaining playoff berths.

Today’s match between Lucknow Super Giants and Punjab Kings at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow carries enormous significance for the playoff equation. A PBKS victory would significantly boost their chances of reaching the knockout stages, while a loss could effectively end their campaign. The permutations are complex, involving net run rates, head-to-head records, and results across multiple matches.

SRH’s net run rate received a significant boost from their 55-run victory, which could prove decisive if multiple teams finish on equal points. In a tournament where the margins between qualification and elimination are razor-thin, every run scored and conceded carries weight. The Sunrisers will be hoping that their dominant display translates into a tangible advantage when the final standings are calculated.

What This Match Means for the Final Week of IPL 2026

The final week of the IPL 2026 league stage promises to be one of the most exciting in the tournament’s history. With multiple teams fighting for the last available playoff spots, every match carries the potential to reshape the standings. Fans can expect high-intensity cricket as teams leave nothing in reserve in their pursuit of qualification.

For RCB, the luxury of having secured first place means they can approach their remaining matches with less pressure, potentially resting key players ahead of the playoffs. For SRH, the imperative is clear: they must win their remaining fixtures and hope that other results align in their favour. The beauty of the IPL format is that nothing is decided until the final ball of the final league match is bowled, and this season has lived up to that promise in spectacular fashion.

The India versus Afghanistan series scheduled for June will give IPL performers a chance to carry their form into international cricket, but for now, all eyes remain firmly on the race for the IPL 2026 title. With the playoffs just days away, the intensity is only going to increase from here.