IPL 2022, RCB vs RR: Rajat Patidar joins Suresh Raina in unique list with blistering 58 in Qualifier 2

Rajat Patidar won accolades after his stunning 112 not out in Royal Challengers Bangalore’s (RCB) emphatic 14-run win over Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in IPL 2022 Eliminator, at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata, on Wednesday evening (May 25). 

Courtesy of his blazing knock, RCB posted 207-4 and restricted Lucknow to 193-6 to proceed to the Qualifier 2, for the first time since 2016. On Friday (May 27), when RCB locked horns with Rajasthan Royals (RR) in Qualifier 2 — at the Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium, Ahmedabad — the 28-year-old Patidar made heads turn once again by smashing an entertaining 42-ball 58, laced with 4 fours and 3 sixes at 138.10. With this, the uncapped player joined Chennai Super Kings’ (CSK) former player Suresh Raina in an elite list for Indian batters.

Indians Scoring 50+ Scores in both Eliminator & Qualifier 2 of an IPL Season

Suresh Raina (2014)

Rajat Patidar (2022)*

The overall list — comprising only three batters — also includes Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH)’s Kane Williamson. 

Talking about Raina, he had slammed an impressive 33-ball 54 — versus Mumbai Indians (MI) — and followed it up with a blistering 25-ball 87 in Qualifier 2, versus then known as Kings XI Punjab (KXIP).

Despite Patidar’s heroics, RCB only managed 157-8 with Prasidh Krishna (3 for 22) and Obed McCoy shining with the ball for RR.

ALSO READ | Virat, Rohit’s barren run to MI-CSK’s mighty fall: 5 surprising elements from IPL 2022’s league stage

During the mid-innings, McCoy, who finished with 3 for 23, told the broadcasters, “I actually think the wicket has extra bounce, it is seaming a lot as well and because of the extra bounce the variations worked well on the wicket. The plan was to stay a lot more focused, I know I am better than what I bowled in the previous match. So, it is just about going to the nets and working out on what I had to, on my run-up as well. I was kind of over-striding a bit in the last match, so I decided to work on it in the nets and that worked for me today. I love the challenge (of death bowling) and that will make me better as a player going forward.”