Patidar, bowlers star as RCB enter back-to-back IPL finals

Gujarat Titans knew they had to counter Rajat Patidar’s stunning assault to ensure Royal Challengers don’t make it to back-to-back IPL finals. In the process, they also chased the highest playoff score in history, but a determined RCB ensured GT had no chance, booking a place in the final to defend their title with a 92-run win in Qualifier 1 in Dharamsala.

Contrary to RCB’s blitzkrieg at the start, GT never got going. Facing the excellence of Josh Hazlewood, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jacob Duffy in the Powerplay, Sai Sudharsan and Shubman Gill found it tough to disrupt their lengths.

Sudharsan’s hit-wicket dismissal was rather unlucky but Bhuvi had Gill’s number again. While Hazlewood had the last laugh against Jos Buttler, Rasikh Salam dismissed Jason Holder and Nishant Sindhu in one over.

The GT innings simply collapsed after that. The decision to play Duffy over Romario Shepherd also paid off for RCB – they didn’t end up needing Shepherd’s services with the bat, and although Duffy was bowled out early, he effected three dismissals.

Rahul Tewatia scored a fighting 68 off 43 but it wasn’t enough, especially after his team were reduced to 88/8 after just 11.2 overs. GT was eventually bowled out for 162 in 19.3 overs. Earlier in the innings, RCB began with fearless intent. Venkatesh Iyer teed off yet again and alongside Virat Kohli, they surged to their highest Powerplay score of 76/1.

Iyer took on Mohammed Siraj from the outset, punching him through cover and then ramping Rabada for six. Though Rabada eventually bounced him out, the tone had already been set.

Kohli ensured the run-rate never dipped. He took on Mohammed Siraj and lifted him over mid-off. GT had managed to claw their way back through Jason Holder’s double strike that saw Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal in the same over. Patidar then led from the front, smashing an unbeaten 93 off just 33 balls, striking at over 280 and peppering the innings with nine sixes.

In the end, RCB defeated GT by 92 runs in Qualifier 1, securing a spot in the IPL final. Rajat Patidar’s explosive 93 led RCB to a record playoff score of 254. (Hindustan Times)