Rajat Patidar Aims for Redemption in IPL Qualifier Against Punjab Kings
Rajat Patidar's Crucial Match Ahead
As the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) prepare for their Qualifier One match against Punjab Kings (PBKS) at Mullanpur on Thursday, all eyes will be on skipper Rajat Patidar. The winner of this match secures a direct entry into the finals.
Patidar, recognized for his exceptional performance against spin bowling, has recently faced challenges with his form following a strong start to the season. Nevertheless, his impressive track record in knockout T20 matches positions him well for a comeback in this critical game.
Patidar's Knockout Performance History
The 31-year-old batsman, who joined RCB in late 2022 as a replacement for Luvnith Sisodia, gained fame with a remarkable century off 49 balls against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in the eliminator, leading RCB to victory. In IPL knockout matches, he has amassed 204 runs over three innings, boasting an average of 102 and a strike rate of 173, including one century and one half-century.
His performance in T20 knockouts for Madhya Pradesh is even more impressive, as he has never scored below 25 in these matches. Overall, Patidar has accumulated 379 runs in six T20 knockout games, averaging 126.33, with one century and three half-centuries. His latest performances include unbeaten scores of 66* against Delhi and 81* against Mumbai in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) semifinal and final.
Patidar's Struggles in IPL 2025
Currently, Patidar is in urgent need of runs. His initial performance in IPL 2025 was promising, with 209 runs in six innings at an average of 34.83 and a strike rate of 157.14, including two half-centuries. However, his subsequent six innings yielded only 62 runs, resulting in a disappointing average of 10.33, with his highest score being just 18.
Throughout the season, he has totaled 271 runs at an average of 22.58 and a strike rate of 140.41, with a top score of 64. The question remains: can Patidar's ability to perform under pressure lead to a significant comeback at Mullanpur?
Team Lineups
Punjab Kings Squad: Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh, Josh Inglis(w), Shreyas Iyer(c), Nehal Wadhera, Shashank Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Harpreet Brar, Kyle Jamieson, Arshdeep Singh, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Yuzvendra Chahal, Suryansh Shedge, Musheer Khan, Xavier Bartlett, Praveen Dubey, Azmatullah Omarzai, Vishnu Vinod, Yash Thakur, Aaron Hardie, Kuldeep Sen, Mitchell Owen, Harnoor Singh, Pyla Avinash.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru Squad: Philip Salt, Virat Kohli, Mayank Agarawal, Rajat Patidar(c), Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma(w), Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yash Dayal, Nuwan Thushara, Suyash Sharma, Josh Hazlewood, Tim Seifert, Rasikh Dar Salam, Manoj Bhandage, Swapnil Singh, Blessing Muzarabani, Tim David, Mohit Rathee, Swastik Chikara, Abhinandan Singh.