R Ashwin’s big support to RCB captain Rajat Patidar (Image: X)

Rajat Patidar Performed one of the best innings of his IPL career in Qualifier 1 against Gujarat Titans. The RCB captain played a sensational inning of 93 not out off just 33 balls, helping his team reach 254/5 – the highest score in the history of the IPL playoffs. Former Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin Patidar was praised profusely after the innings.Royal Challengers Bangalore reached their second consecutive IPL final after defeating Gujarat Titans by 92 runs in the IPL 2026 Qualifier 1 in Dharamsala. Patidar was undoubtedly the star of the night, demolishing the GT bowling attack with a breathtaking innings full of fearless strokeplay.The RCB captain hit nine sixes and five fours at a tremendous strike rate of 281.82. One of the highlights of his innings came when he scored 28 runs in a single over off Kulwant Khejroliya. However, the extraordinary moment came in the 17th over Kagiso Rabada. Soon after completing his stormy half-century in 21 balls, Patidar hit a brilliant backfoot six off a pace ball outside the off stump. Instead of defending, he stayed deep in the crease, opened his arms and fired the ball across the cover boundary with incredible power and timing.Ashwin called it the “shot of the day” and even suggested that it could be the “shot of the tournament”.

“The backfoot six by Rajat off Kagiso Rabada was the straight-up shot of the day, maybe even a contender for the shot of the tournament. How he managed to generate that power from there is beyond me,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel ‘Aish Ki Baat’.“Before this knock, Shreyas Iyer Maybe a little ahead in the captaincy and batting conversation, but after tonight, Patidar is right up there,” Ashwin said.“We all know how good Rajat Patidar is against spin, but the way he handled the fast bowling today was also impressive. And the sixes he hit off Rashid Khan… I have seen very few batsmen who can come on the front foot, get the pitch of the ball right and still hoist Rashid over extra cover for six. Pure class. The man comes, the time comes,” he added.