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

A Command Performance at Dharamshala

The HPCA Stadium in Dharamshala witnessed a historic display of batting prowess on May 26 as Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) secured a decisive victory over the Gujarat Titans in the IPL 2026 Qualifier 1. Central to this monumental win was captain Rajat Patidar, whose explosive innings not only dismantled the Titans’ bowling attack but also caught the attention of cricketing legend Ravichandran Ashwin.

Setting the Stage for Victory

After Gujarat Titans captain Shubman Gill won the toss and elected to bowl, the pressure was firmly on RCB to post a competitive total on a track known for its chasing advantages. RCB responded with intent. Venkatesh Iyer provided a rapid start with 19 off just 7 balls, followed by steady contributions from Virat Kohli, who scored 43 off 25, and Devdutt Padikkal, who added 30 from 19.

However, it was the captain’s knock that defined the match. Rajat Patidar dismantled the opposition with an unbeaten 93 off 33 balls, featuring nine sixes and five fours. Supported by Krunal Pandya’s 43 and Jitesh Sharma’s quick cameo, RCB finished at a staggering 254/5—a record-breaking total for an IPL playoff game.

The Collapse of the Gujarat Titans

Facing a monumental target, the Gujarat Titans struggled to maintain momentum. Despite a brief resistance from Jos Buttler and Sai Sudharsan, the innings folded under the weight of the required run rate. Rahul Tewatia’s 68 provided a late spark, but it was not enough to save the Titans, who were eventually bowled out for 162. RCB’s bowling unit was clinical, with Jacob Duffy leading the charge with 3/39, while Krunal Pandya, Rasikh Salam, and Bhuvneshwar Kumar chipped in with two wickets each.

Ravichandran Ashwin’s High Praise

Following the match, Ravichandran Ashwin expressed his admiration for Patidar on his YouTube show, ‘Ash ki Baat.’ Ashwin was particularly taken by a backfoot six hit off Kagiso Rabada in the 17th over, describing it as a contender for 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.

The Changing Narrative: Patidar vs. Iyer

Perhaps the most significant talking point of Ashwin’s commentary was the comparison between Patidar and Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer. Ashwin admitted that while he previously viewed Iyer as being ahead in terms of leadership and batting prowess, Patidar’s recent display has bridged the gap significantly.

“Before this knock, Shreyas Iyer was probably a bit ahead in the captaincy and batting conversations, but after tonight, Patidar is right up there. We all know how good Rajat Patidar is against spin, but the way he handled fast bowling today was seriously impressive too. And those sixes he hit off Rashid Khan… I’ve seen very few batters who can get onto the front foot and still loft him over extra cover for six. Pure class,” Ashwin added.

Eyeing History

With this 92-run triumph, RCB has now advanced to the IPL 2026 final in Ahmedabad. The team stands on the precipice of greatness, aiming to secure back-to-back IPL titles. Should they succeed, they will join the elite company of the Chennai Super Kings (2010-2011) and the Mumbai Indians (2019-2020) as the only franchises to defend their championship crowns successfully.

As the cricket world turns its eyes to the final, all focus remains on whether Rajat Patidar can maintain this incredible form and etch his name into the annals of IPL history.