TimesofIndia.com in Dharamshala: On the eve of IPL 2026 Qualifier 1 against Gujarat Titans (GT), the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) captain Rajat Patidar He said that he wants to change a perception about him that he likes to play spinners; Instead, he believes his game is more suited to fast bowlers.He had said, “This year I have dominated fast bowlers more. There is a perception about me that I play spinners better. But if anyone asks me, I always say that I like fast bowlers.” And the numbers don’t lie. Patidar has hit 41 sixes in this year’s IPL, 27 of which have been against fast bowlers. He has scored 486 runs in 14 matches, but the statistics do not fully reflect the impact he has made. Batting at number 4, he has scored five half-centuries and scored runs at a strike rate of 196.76.On Tuesday evening, before the picturesque HPCA Stadium in Dharamshala lit up with a laser show, it was Patidar who set the stage on fire. The 32-year-old player performed one of the most brilliant innings of the season, scoring a brilliant 93 runs in 33 balls. It was an innings built on timing and relentless intent. He hit nine sky-high sixes, seven of which were against fast bowlers. Among them, Kagiso Rabada had an extraordinary hit in the seventh over. The right-handed batsman made a comeback and easily lofted a good length delivery over cover for a maximum. It was a stroke that perfectly reflected the confidence and authority with which he batted. Patidar’s innings did not explode immediately. He worked his way through the start with measured singles and calm accumulation, rotating the strike while allowing the innings to settle. At that time, RCB had lost two set batsmen in quick succession in the form of Devdutt Padikkal and Virat Kohli. Patidar’s approach was one of patience rather than immediate aggression.His first significant statement came in the 11th over when Jason Holder dropped short and Patidar immediately shifted his weight onto the backfoot and pulled the ball deep into the stands over mid-wicket. This shot not only completed RCB’s century but also reduced the pressure that was building.There were also moments of good fortune. In the 12th over, against Prasidh Krishna, a big shot attempt took an inside edge which went past Jos Buttler, resulting in a bye. Soon after, Patidar survived a major scare when a leading edge flew over the wicketkeeper’s head and fell safely among the gathered fielders. In the same over, a pull shot almost ended his innings but Rabada gave a direct chance in the deep.

Royal Challengers Bangalore 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 Dharamshala on Tuesday. (ANI)

Those moments proved costly for GT.Patidar started scoring runs rapidly against Kulwant Khejroliya in the 15th over. An ill-timed stroke reached the ropes, before he used the angle of the delivery brilliantly to hit a stylish six over long leg. He finished the over by clearing the ropes again and then finding the boundary, collecting 28 runs in a pace-change that strongly turned the contest.The spinners also did not get any relief.Rashid Khan, usually one of the toughest bowlers to dominate, became Patidar’s next target. A slightly shorter delivery disappeared over long-on, dancing with the spin and hitting it with complete freedom, before Patidar finished the over with a brilliant inside-out six over cover.The attack against Rabada intensified. Patidar brought up a blistering half-century off just 21 balls with a ferocious pull over deep midwicket and then immediately followed it up with that brilliant back-foot drive over cover. Some batsmen attempt this type of stroke against fast pace; Even fewer execute it so cleanly.

Till this situation, Patidar looked invincible.The next loss was to Mohammed Siraj. A wide full toss was clipped over backward point for six runs, before another over-pitched delivery was launched for four runs. Patidar had entered a phase where almost every scoring opportunity became a boundary.In the last over of RCB’s innings, Prasidh Krishna felt the full force of Patidar’s final attack. A fulltoss on the hips went missing over backward square leg for six. Another powerful hit straight at the bowler took him into the nineties.Patidar almost single-handedly changed the momentum of the innings. He survived the pressure, rode his luck and then destroyed both pace and spin with equal authority. His 93 was more than just a collection of runs; This was a display of fearless batting.