Rajat Patidar Makes IPL History with Record-Breaking Half-Century
Historic Performance by Rajat Patidar
During the IPL match on April 12, 2026, at Wankhede Stadium, Rajat Patidar made headlines by scoring 53 runs off just 20 balls in a game between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Mumbai Indians (MI). The 32-year-old batsman elevated himself to the number three position after Phil Salt and Virat Kohli set a solid foundation with a rapid 120-run opening partnership in only 65 deliveries. Coming in to bat in the 11th over, Patidar exploded onto the scene, scoring 22 runs in his first four balls and reaching his half-century in a mere 11 balls. He was on track to break the record for the fastest half-century in IPL history, having scored 44 runs in his first 10 balls before the Mumbai bowlers managed to slow him down. Eventually, he was dismissed by Hardik Pandya.
Rajat Patidar's Record-Breaking Achievement
Patidar's remarkable innings secured him a place in IPL history as he matched the record for the joint-fastest half-century by a captain, previously held by Adam Gilchrist for 17 years. Gilchrist achieved this milestone during the 2009 IPL while playing for Deccan Chargers against Delhi Daredevils. Patidar also surpassed Faf du Plessis' record for the fastest half-century by a captain for RCB by one ball and broke MS Dhoni's record for the quickest half-century against MI by a captain.
Fastest IPL 50s By A Captain
| Player | Balls Taken | Team | Opponent | Year | Venue |
| Rajat Patidar | 17 | RCB | MI | 2026 | Mumbai (Wankhede) |
| Adam Gilchrist | 17 | Deccan Chargers | DD | 2009 | Centurion |
| Faf du Plessis | 18 | RCB | GT | 2024 | Bengaluru |
| MS Dhoni | 20 | CSK | MI | 2012 | Bengaluru |
| Virender Sehwag | 20 | DD | RR | 2012 | Jaipur |
| David Warner | 20 | SRH | CSK | 2016 | Hyderabad |
| David Warner | 20 | SRH | KKR | 2017 | Hyderabad |
Overall, Patidar's performance ranks as the joint-second fastest half-century for an RCB player, alongside Chris Gayle's 17-ball fifty against Pune Warriors India in 2013, and only behind Romario Shepherd's 14-ball fifty against Chennai Super Kings last year. Additionally, it marks the fourth-fastest half-century against MI, following Pat Cummins (14), Jake Fraser-Mcgurk (15), and Abhishek Sharma (16). Patidar's explosive innings contributed significantly to RCB's impressive total of 240 runs. Earlier in the match, Salt scored 78 runs off 36 balls, while Kohli added 50 runs off 38 balls, ensuring that all three top-order batsmen reached the half-century mark. Tim David also played a crucial role, finishing with 34 runs off 16 balls.