Rajat Patidar Gets Ahead Of Shreyas Iyer For India Captaincy And Batting – Rajat Patidar Emerges as Elite Leader: Ashwin Backs Him Over Shreyas Iyer
A Statement Performance at the HPCA Stadium
The IPL 2026 playoffs witnessed a masterclass in aggressive batting as Rajat Patidar led the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) to a dominant victory over the Gujarat Titans (GT). Held at the picturesque HPCA Stadium in Dharamshala on May 26, the Qualifier 1 clash was defined by Patidar’s sheer brilliance, a performance so compelling it has sent shockwaves through the cricketing fraternity, drawing high praise from veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin.
The stage was set when Gujarat Titans captain Shubman Gill won the toss and elected to field. Recognizing the venue’s reputation as a chasing paradise, RCB understood that an ordinary score would not suffice. The team responded with a bold, attacking strategy. While Venkatesh Iyer provided a rapid start, and Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal maintained the momentum with solid contributions, the true turning point arrived when Patidar took charge.
The Record-Breaking Innings
Rajat Patidar’s unbeaten 93 off just 33 deliveries was the cornerstone of RCB’s historic total of 254/5—the highest ever recorded in an IPL playoff match. His innings featured a breathtaking display of power-hitting, including nine sixes and five fours. His ability to dismantle bowlers was on full display as he scored 28 runs in a single over against Kulwant Khejroliya, followed by a highlight-reel backfoot six against the formidable Kagiso Rabada in the 17th over.
The Gujarat Titans, facing an insurmountable mountain, struggled to find their rhythm. Despite a fighting 68 from Rahul Tewatia, the GT chase collapsed under the pressure of the record-breaking target. With a commanding 92-run victory, RCB secured their spot in the final, set to take place in Ahmedabad on May 31.
Ashwin’s High Praise
In his analysis on his YouTube show ‘Ash ki Baat’, Ravichandran Ashwin was effusive in his admiration for Patidar. He described the backfoot six against Rabada as the ‘shot of the day’ and potentially the ‘shot of the tournament’. Beyond the aesthetics, Ashwin highlighted Patidar’s technical prowess, noting his exceptional ability to handle both spin and high-quality fast bowling.
Perhaps the most significant takeaway from Ashwin’s analysis was his assessment of the leadership landscape. Ashwin suggested that while Shreyas Iyer had previously been the frontrunner in discussions regarding batting and captaincy caliber, Patidar has firmly asserted himself as a peer—or even a superior option—in the current climate.
“Before this knock, Shreyas Iyer was probably a bit ahead in the captaincy and batting conversations, but after tonight, Patidar is right up there,” Ashwin remarked. He further noted the class displayed by Patidar in his treatment of world-class bowlers like Rashid Khan, emphasizing that the RCB captain possesses the rare ability to dominate even the toughest bowling attacks.
The Road to History
RCB now stands on the precipice of achieving something monumental. Having reached their second consecutive IPL final, they are just one win away from joining the elite ranks of Chennai Super Kings (2010-2011) and Mumbai Indians (2019-2020) as the only franchises to secure back-to-back IPL titles. With the momentum firmly on their side and a captain in the form of his life, RCB looks poised to etch their names into the history books. As the cricket world turns its attention to Ahmedabad, all eyes will be on Rajat Patidar to see if he can deliver one final, decisive blow to cement this golden era for Bengaluru.
