‘I’m not afraid…’: Rajat Patidar after storming RCB into IPL 2026 final

ByTech Word News

Rajat Patidar (Image credit: BCCI/IPL) NEW DELHI: 93 runs, 0 balls, 9 sixes and a strike rate of 281.82 – Rajat Patidar lit up the HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala to lead Royal Challengers Bengaluru to the IPL 2026 final with a dominant performance. The RCB skipper credited his fearless mindset and willingness to take on the bowlers without fear of dismissal as the key to his explosive form after leading his side to an impressive 92-run win over Gujarat Titans.Patidar blasted away at the opposition with a breathtaking 33-ball 93 not out, an innings studded with nine sixes and five fours that saw RCB post a record 254 for five – the highest ever total in an IPL knockout match.In response, Gujarat Titans were completely outplayed and bundled out for 162 in 19.3 overs as the defending champions booked their place in their second consecutive IPL final.“It was a super game for us, the way the batsmen dominated, they attacked with intent, it was good for us. It wasn’t a clear plan but we were ready for it, we have to show some body language that we are ready for you, every batsman showed that, the attacking mindset,” Patidar told a TV station after the match.“I’ll take a couple of 8-10 balls to see how the wicket is going and then I’ll have a clear mind to go for it, I’m not worried about my wicket. I’m trying to put the bowlers under pressure.“The wicket was not that easy to get under the ball and hit, there was a variable bounce. The way GT had been playing up until now, it was clear that we had to get their three main batsmen out in the power play and it worked,” he said.

  • Defending champions advancing to the finals the following year:
  • Czech Republic in 2010-11
  • Czech Republic in 2011-12
  • ČSK in 2018-19
  • MI in 2019-20
  • GT in 2022-23
  • RCB in 2025-26

  • Most appearances in IPL finals:
  • 10 CSK (5 wins)
  • 6 MI (5 wins)
  • 5 RCB (1 win) *
  • 4 KKR (3 wins)
  • 3 SRH (1 win)

  • Biggest wins in IPL knockouts/Playoffs (by runs):
  • 105 RR vs DC (Wankhede, 2008)
  • 92 RCB vs GT (Dharamsala, 2026) *
  • 86 CSK vs DC (Chennai, 2012)
  • 81 MI vs LSG (Chennai, 2023)
  • 71 RCB vs RR (Pune, 2015)