Rajat Patidar Gets Ahead Of Shreyas Iyer For India Captaincy And Batting – Rajat Patidar Overtakes Shreyas Iyer: Ashwin Praises RCB Captain’s IPL Heroics

A Statement Performance at Dharamshala

In the high-stakes environment of the IPL 2026 Qualifier 1, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) delivered a masterclass that will be talked about for years. Facing the Gujarat Titans at the picturesque HPCA Stadium in Dharamshala on May 26, RCB needed a statement performance to secure their place in the final. Led by the tactical and batting brilliance of Rajat Patidar, the team did exactly that, putting up a mammoth total of 254/5—the highest score ever recorded in an IPL playoff match.

The Strategy Behind the Record Total

Despite Gujarat Titans captain Shubman Gill opting to bowl first, hoping to leverage the chasing conditions of the venue, RCB’s batting unit remained unfazed. The intent was clear from the opening ball. Venkatesh Iyer provided a rapid start with a 7-ball 19, setting the tone for the rest of the lineup. Virat Kohli played a measured yet aggressive 43 off 25, while Devdutt Padikkal maintained the pressure with a quick-fire 30 off 19 deliveries. However, it was the captain, Rajat Patidar, who truly stole the show.

Patidar’s unbeaten 93 off just 33 balls was a display of sheer dominance. Striking with nine sixes and five boundaries, he took the game away from the opposition single-handedly. With vital cameos from Krunal Pandya and Jitesh Sharma, RCB reached a total that proved too steep for the Titans.

Gujarat Titans’ Collapse

The pressure of chasing 255 proved to be insurmountable for the Gujarat Titans. While Jos Buttler and Sai Sudharsan provided moments of hope, the RCB bowling attack was disciplined and relentless. Jacob Duffy led the charge with a crucial 3/39, while Krunal Pandya, Rasikh Salam, and Bhuvneshwar Kumar chipped in with two wickets apiece. Despite a valiant 68 from Rahul Tewatia, the Titans were bundled out for 162, handing RCB a commanding 92-run victory and a direct ticket to the final in Ahmedabad on May 31.

Ashwin’s High Praise: The Evolution of a Leader

The performance caught the sharp eye of veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin. Speaking on his show ‘Ash ki Baat’, Ashwin expressed genuine admiration for Patidar’s development. Specifically, he highlighted a backfoot six against Kagiso Rabada as the ‘shot of the tournament’.

“That backfoot six Rajat hit off Kagiso Rabada was the straight-up shot of the day, probably even a contender for shot of the tournament. How he even managed to generate that power from there is beyond me,” Ashwin remarked. Beyond the technical brilliance, Ashwin noted that Patidar’s growth as a captain has been exponential.

In a significant observation, Ashwin suggested that Patidar has now moved ahead of Punjab Kings’ Shreyas Iyer in the hierarchy of captaincy and batting discussions. “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 stated. He further praised Patidar’s ability to handle high-quality pace and spin, noting his technical prowess against bowlers like Rashid Khan as evidence of a player in peak form.

Eyes on History

As RCB prepares for the final, they stand on the precipice of history. Having reached their second consecutive final, the team is now chasing back-to-back titles. Should they succeed, they will join the elite company of the Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians as the only franchises to defend an IPL trophy. With Patidar leading the charge with both grit and grace, the momentum is firmly in their corner as they look to define an era in Indian cricket.