Rajat Patidar Gets Ahead Of Shreyas Iyer For India Captaincy And Batting – Rajat Patidar Overtakes Shreyas Iyer in Captaincy and Batting Form
A Commanding Performance in Dharamshala
The HPCA Stadium in Dharamshala witnessed a masterclass on May 26 as Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) secured a dominant victory over the Gujarat Titans in the IPL 2026 Qualifier 1. At the center of this display was captain Rajat Patidar, whose explosive batting set the stage for a monumental victory. Following a toss that saw Shubman Gill elect to bowl, RCB displayed a calculated aggression that left the opposition scrambling.
Setting the Stage for a Record Total
RCB’s intent was clear from the first ball. While Venkatesh Iyer provided a quick-fire start with 19 off just 7 balls, the platform was truly built by Virat Kohli, who contributed a sharp 43 from 25 deliveries. Devdutt Padikkal maintained the momentum with a brisk 30, but the highlight of the evening was undoubtedly the captain’s knock.
Rajat Patidar’s unbeaten 93 off 33 balls was a masterclass in power hitting. His innings, studded with nine massive sixes and five fours, propelled RCB to a staggering 254/5—the highest total ever recorded in an IPL playoff game. He found capable support in Krunal Pandya, who scored 43, and Jitesh Sharma, who remained unbeaten on 15. The Gujarat Titans’ chase never found its feet, with Rahul Tewatia’s 68 being the only significant resistance in a total of 162. With this 92-run win, RCB punched their ticket to the May 31 final in Ahmedabad.
Ashwin’s High Praise for Patidar
Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin was quick to laud Patidar’s performance, particularly highlighting his technical brilliance against high-quality fast bowling. Ashwin was especially captivated by a backfoot six hit off Kagiso Rabada in the 17th over.
“That backfoot six Rajat hit off Kagiso Rabada was the straight-up shot of the day, probably even a contender for shot of the tournament. How he even managed to generate that power from there is beyond me,” Ashwin remarked on his YouTube show, Ash ki Baat. The spinner was equally impressed by Patidar’s ability to loft Rashid Khan, a feat rarely seen against the crafty leg-spinner.
The Shreyas Iyer Comparison
Perhaps the most significant takeaway from Ashwin’s commentary was his reassessment of the leadership hierarchy in Indian cricket. Ashwin suggested that while Shreyas Iyer was previously viewed as the frontrunner in discussions regarding batting form and captaincy acumen, Patidar’s recent displays have closed that gap significantly.
“Before this knock, Shreyas Iyer was probably a bit ahead in the captaincy and batting conversations, but after tonight, Patidar is right up there,” Ashwin noted. He highlighted that while Patidar’s prowess against spin is well-documented, his newfound composure and dominance against pace bowling have elevated him to elite status.
Chasing Historical Greatness
With this victory, RCB has reached their second consecutive IPL final. The team now stands on the precipice of greatness, aiming to become only the third franchise in league history—joining the ranks of Chennai Super Kings (2010-11) and Mumbai Indians (2019-20)—to secure back-to-back titles. As the team prepares for the final showdown in Ahmedabad, the spotlight remains firmly on Patidar, whose leadership and form might just be the catalyst for another historic chapter in RCB’s storied IPL journey.
The momentum is clearly with the Challengers. Whether they can replicate the brilliance of their 2026 campaign in the final remains to be seen, but for now, Patidar’s rise as a premier captain and batter has become one of the most compelling narratives of the season.
