Rajat Patidar gives a lecture at a six stroke master class in Dharamsala

TimesofIndia.com in Dharamsala: On the eve of IPL 2026 Qualifier 1 against Gujarat Titans (GT), Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) captain Rajat Patidar said one of the perceptions he wanted to change about himself was that he prefers playing spinners; instead, he believes his game is more suited to fast bowlers.“I’ve dominated the fast bowlers more this year. There’s a perception that I play spinners better. But when someone asks me, I always say I prefer fast bowlers,” he said. And the numbers don’t lie. Patidar has hit 41 sixes in this year’s IPL, including 27 against fast bowlers. He scored 486 runs in 14 matches, but the numbers don’t fully capture the impact he created. Batting at No.4, he has five fifties and has scored at a strike rate of 196.76.On Tuesday evening, before a laser show lit up the picturesque HPCA stadium in Dharamsala, it was a Patidar who set the stage ablaze. The 32-year-old produced one of the most electrifying knocks of the season as he smashed a stunning 93 off 33 deliveries. It was a shift built on timing and relentless intent. He smoked nine towering sixes with seven of them coming against the pacers. Among them was Kagiso Rabada’s extraordinary strike in the seventh over. The right-hander swung back and effortlessly hit covers with a good length for a maximum. It was a shot that perfectly summed up the confidence and authority with which he batted. Patidar’s innings did not explode immediately. He initially worked his way through with measured singles and quiet accumulation, spin hitting while letting the innings settle. At this stage, RCB lost two sets of batsmen in Devdutt Padikkal and Virat Kohli in quick succession. Patidar’s approach was one of patience rather than immediate aggression.His first major statement came in the 11th over when Jason Holder dropped and Patidar quickly shifted his weight on the back foot to pull the ball deep into the stands over mid-wicket. The shot not only brought up RCB’s hundred but also released the pressure that had been building.There were also moments of happiness. Against Prasidh Krishna in the 12th over, an attempted big shot produced an inside edge that flew past Jose Buttler for a bye. Soon after, Patidar survived a huge scare when a leading edge flew high over the keeper’s head and landed safely between the converging fielders. A pull shot in the same over almost ended his innings, but Rabada laid a direct chance in the deep.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru captain Rajat Patidar plays a shot during the Indian Premier League 2026 Qualifier 1 match against Gujarat Titans at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala on Tuesday. (OR)

These moments proved costly for GT.Patidar started to accelerate quickly in the 15th over against Kulwant Khejroliya. A poorly timed lofted shot reached the ropes before he followed it up with a stylish six over long leg, making brilliant use of the angle of the delivery. He finished it off by clearing the ropes again and then finding a boundary, picking up 28 runs in a momentum-shift over to swing the match firmly.Even the spinners found no relief.Rashid Khan, usually one of the toughest bowlers, became Patidar’s next target. A rather short delivery disappeared at long-on before Patidar ended the over with a beautiful cover-out six over, dancing with spin and striking with complete freedom.The attack against Rabada intensified. Patidar brought up a scintillating fifty from just 21 balls with a brutal drive over deep mid-wicket and then immediately followed it up with that stunning back-foot drive through cover. Few batsmen attempt such a stroke against high pace; even fewer do so cleanly. At this stage Patidar looked unstoppable.Mohammed Siraj was the next to suffer. A wide full toss was sliced ​​over backward point for a six before another overshot delivery was launched for a four. Patidar entered a phase where almost every scoring opportunity became a boundary.Prasidh Krishna, in RCB’s last innings, felt the full force of Patidar’s finishing attack. Full toss on the sides gone over backward square leg for a six. Another massive hit straight back over the bowler took him into the nineties.

What impressed you the most about Rajat Patidar’s innings?

Patidar changed the pace of the innings almost single-handedly. He survived the pressure, rode with luck and then dissected pace and spin with equal authority. His 93 was more than just a collection of runs; it was an exhibition of fearless batting.