Royal Challengers Bangalore batter Rajat Patidar on Wednesday became the first unrestricted player in Indian Premier League (IPL) history to win a century in the playoffs. The batter achieved this feat during his side’s Eliminator clash against Lucknow Super Giants here at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. It was a memorable day on the pitch for Patidar as he crushed an unbeaten 112 at just 54 to lead his squad to a massive 207/4 by the end of their 20 overs. He also became the first player from his side to score a century in the playoffs, surpassing Chris Gayle’s 89-run knockout in the second qualifier against Mumbai Indians in the 2011 edition of the competition.
Previously, the highest score of an uncapped player in playoffs/knockout matches was Manish Pandey during the 2014 edition of IPL. When he played for Kolkata Knight Riders against Punjab Kings in the final, he scored 94 runs for his side.
Overall, he is the fourth uncapped player to reach a century in the league. The first was Manish Pandey, who scored an unbeaten 114 in 2009 against the now-defunct Deccan Chargers. The other uncapped players with an IPL century are Paul Valthaty (120* for Punjab Kings against Chennai Super Kings in 2011) and Devdutt Padikkal (101* for Royal Challengers Bangalore against Rajasthan Royals in 2021).
So far, five centuries have been scored in the IPL playoffs/knockout games in the league’s history. This includes Shane Watson (117* for Chennai Super Kings against Sunrisers Hyderabad in the 2018 final), Wriddhiman Saha (115* for Punjab Kings against Kolkata Knight Riders in the 2014 final), Virender Sehwag (122 for Punjab Kings against Chennai Super Kings in Qualifier 2 in 2014) and Murali Vijay (113 for Chennai Super Kings against Delhi Capitals in Qualifier 2 in 2012).
An unbeaten century by Rajat Patidar (112*) and his 92 run stand with wicketkeeper batter Dinesh Karthik propelled Royal Challengers Bangalore to a massive 207/4 in their 20 overs in the Eliminator clash against Lucknow Super Giants here at Eden Gardens in Calcutta.
It was a memorable day for the RCB batting lineup as they crushed the opponent hard. LSG had no answer on the batters’ show.
Royal Challengers Bangalore, first started by Lucknow Super Giants, got off to a bad start when they lost skipper Faf Du Plessis to a golden duck. Pacer Mohsin Khan continued his red-hot form as he sent the big fish back to the pavilion after being caught behind it by wicketkeeper Quinton De Kock.
Compatriots Virat Kohli and Rajat Patidar were now tasked with taking turns rebuilding after this hiccup in the first over. Both batters looked very good and took LSG bowlers to the cleaners. Kohli hit two major boundaries. Patidar crushed pacemaker Avesh Khan for two fours in the fifth over and increased his aggression in the next over, crushing spinner Krunal Pandya for 4.4,6.4 in the sixth over.
At the end of the power play in six overs, RCB was on a solid 52/1, with Kohli (18*) and Patidar (33*) looking great.
The duo soon brought up their 50-run tie. Avesh Khan broke through in the ninth over of the innings, sending Virat Kohli off for 25 out of 24 after being caught by the third man trying an uppercut. The 66-run tie between the duo was ended.
This brought Glenn Maxwell into the fold, who made his intentions clear by crushing spinner Ravi Bishnoi for a six in the 10th over. After 10 overs, RCB was 84/2, with Patidar (49*) and Maxwell (8*).
Patidar soon brought up his half-century, his second of the season at just 28 balls. However, on the next ball, Maxwell was fired for 9 by Krunal Pandya after being caught on deep square legs by Evin Lewis.
This brought Mahipal Lomror to the fold. With a boundary, the batter helped RCB over the hundred-run mark on the penultimate ball of the 12th over, bowled by pacer Dushmantha Chameera, followed by another four at the end of the over. The duo went on to rebuild the innings before their 29-run tie was broken by Bishnoi after the batter was caught by captain KL Rahul on extra cover. Lomror was the one who got fired for 14 out of 9.
Dinesh Karthik, the in-form batter, was next. He survived an attempt to capture a Mohsin Khan delivery in the 15th over.
At the end of 15 overs, RCB was at 123/4, with 39 runs in the last five overs. Karthik (5*) and Patidar (66*) had the task of boosting their team’s score in the last overs.
On the second ball of the 16th over, Patidar hit a six on a Bishnoi delivery. He continued his charge to the last ball of the over with 4,6,4,6, racing to 92 out of just 44. RCB had an impressive 150/4, with 27 runs from the over.
Karthik also joined Patidar and skipped three fours in the next from Avesh Khan. The momentum had shifted to RCB, with 15 runs in the 17th over and 42 runs in the 16th and 17th over. The duo also scored a quickfire 50 run in just 23 balls.
Mohsin was then on the attack again. Patidar survived a catch and on the next ball, he brought in his first IPL century of just 49 balls. Eight runs were allowed in the over, with fifty runs in these three overs.
After surviving an LBW attempt at Chameera in the 19th over, Karthik took advantage by breaking a six and four. Patidar also hit a six and a four, giving up over 21 runs.
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Avesh Khan survived the final and Karthik beat him for four. RCB finished 207/4 in their 20 overs. With 84 in the last five overs, great acceleration was delivered by Karthik (37*) and Patidar (112*), who went on to go to an unbeaten score of 92 runs off 41 balls.
Mohsin Khan was the choice of LSG bowlers with 1/25. Krunal Pandya, Avesh Khan and Ravi Bishnoi were each given one scalp.
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