The picturesque HPCA Stadium in Dharamshala witnessed cricket carnage on Tuesday. Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) horns locked with Gujarat Titans (GT) in the high-stakes Class 1 Indian Premier League. After GT won the toss and elected to field under lights, their bowling unit came under relentless attack. Blistering, lead by beating the captain Rajat PatidarRCB posted a stunning, record-breaking total of 254/5 in the allotted 20 overs. The fans’ deafening roars echoed through the mountains as the Bengaluru franchise mounted a spectacular mountain of chase for the titans to book a direct ticket to the finals.
Rajat Patidar explodes with a thrilling knock against GT
Taking to the big stage as captain, Patidar played an innings for the history books. He comes into bat after quick walks Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal In the ninth left RCB momentarily stuttered at 94/3, Patidar completely converted the momentum. He launched a stunning counter attack that completely shattered the bowling strategy of Gujarat Titans.
Patidar exploded right from the start, reaching his half-century off just 21 deliveries. He scored 93 off just 33 balls to remain unbeaten at an astonishing strike rate of 281.81. The GT bowlers found no cover as Patidar dismantled both pace and spin with equal abandon, smashing 5 fours and sending the ball over the ropes 9 times. His incredible shot anchored the back of the innings, turning a good single into an unattainable, terrifying target.
RCB set a record target for GT’s chase in Qualifier 1
The foundation for this historic conclusion was laid early with a fearless tall order. Despite losing Venkatesh Iyer (7 off 19) early Kagiso RabadaKohli and Padikkal put on a quick partnership of 50 runs off just 23 balls. Kohli looked in superb touch, hitting 43 off 25 balls at 172.00, while Padikkal hit 19 off 30. Their aggressiveness maximized RCB’s power and they were 76/1 in the first six overs.
When the middle innings threaten to slow things down, Krunal Pandya He rose as an ideal foil for Patidar. Pandya played a crucial, highly effective cameo, hitting 43 off 28 balls, including 5 fours and 2 sixes, and put together a crucial 4th wicket stand. After Krunal was sacked Tim David He kept the intensity alive with a lightning fast 4 off just 5 balls Jitesh Sharma He provided the final flourish with an unbeaten 15 off 5 balls at a strike rate of 300.00.
The extraordinary acceleration saw RCB pass 150 in 14.3, break the 200 barrier in 16.4 and touch 250 in the final over. The last 5 overs were nothing short of a leather chase which fetched a massive 86 runs at 17.20 runs.
On the bowling front, it was a night to forget Shubman Gillmen of Jason Holder Rabada scored 2 wickets but conceded 54 runs. Muhammad Siraj suffered a lot, conceding 46 runs in 3 overs without a wicket Prasidh Krishna Ended with 1/53. Even the presentation Rahul Tewatia as Impact Sub for Kulwant Xecrolia he could do little to stem the tide of escape. RCB’s 254/5 at a current run rate of 12.70 sets up a monumental, record-breaking chase for the Gujarat Titans in this thrilling Qualifier 1.
Also WATCH: Shubman Gill took a stunning run to remove the dangerous Venkatesh Iyer in RCB vs GT Qualifier 1.
Here’s how the fans reacted:
Captain fantastic Rajat Patidar just set Dharamshala on fire! 💥 A breath-taking 93 off 33 balls propelled RCB to a mammoth 254/5 in this high-stakes Qualifier 1. GT’s bowlers had no answer to this pure, unadulterated masterclass! 🚀🔥#RCBvsGT #RajatPatidar… pic.twitter.com/LCTspqwL6C
— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) May 26, 2026
RAJAT PATIDAR in IPL Playoffs:
112* (54) in Eliminator.
58 (42) in Classification 2.
34 (22) in the Eliminator.
15* (8) in Classification 1.
26 (16) in the final.
93* (33) in Selection 1.DEFTACHI KNOWN AS RAJAT PATIDAR. 🥶 pic.twitter.com/csoVDJlEDV
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) May 26, 2026
Rajat Patidar is such a level captain.
After Kohli and DDP fell early, RCB were in real danger of collapse. But Patidar, along with Krunal, calmly weathered the storm and then released him at just the right time.
He stands tall at one end, providing the goal… pic.twitter.com/GtRCnEgT2r
— Vipin Tiwari (@VipinTiwari952) May 26, 2026
Rajat Patidar will play T20i soon.
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) May 26, 2026
Rajat Patidar Appreciation Letter.
He batted slowly when RCB needed to qualify for the Top 2, knowing that the team could collapse before 166 if they went to chase that score down.
Today, he’s playing beast mode again in the qualifier against GT
4 SRH fans were crying why he didn’t go… pic.twitter.com/byIvW40igy
— ‘ (@viratkohli_un) May 26, 2026
FAST, CAPTAIN RAJAT PATIDAR. 🙇
He scored 93* runs off 33 balls with 5 fours and 9 sixes against Gujarat Titans in the big Qualifier 1 match.
– What a great Knock by Captain Rajat. 👏 pic.twitter.com/UUrdQrg8Iv
— Tanuj (@ImTanujSingh) May 26, 2026
THE ABSOLUTE MADNESS OF CAPTAIN RAJAT PATIDAR IN DHARAMSHALA. 🔥
– Wait for Virat Kohli’s reaction. ❤️#RCBvsGT pic.twitter.com/ibdo9mGo3Y
— Nafees (@Nafees_22) May 26, 2026
Rajat Patidar with GT bowlers😭 pic.twitter.com/OWIUNZDk9U
— Ghar Ke Kalesh (@gharkekalesh) May 26, 2026
Virat Kohli admires Rajat Patidar’s batting 🥹❤️🔥 pic.twitter.com/cgFFwqwPH7
— Pari (@BluntIndianGal) May 26, 2026
– Rajat Patidar 21 fifty balls in playoff.
– An excellent six by Patidar.
– Watch Virat Kohli’s reaction.Everyone is shocked to watch Rajat Patidar hit Six 🤯🔥 pic.twitter.com/9f9OHU4qyI
— VIKAS (@Vikas662005) May 26, 2026
Second Rajat Patidar comes out to pull, the skipper takes a backseat and handles the batter. A calm mind, fearless intent and absolute class at the crease #IPL2026
— S. Badrinath (@s_badrinath) May 26, 2026
Also READ: How Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) fared in the IPL playoffs
