Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) returned to winning ways on Sunday night with an 18-run win against Mumbai Indians (MI) at Wankhede Stadium. The defending champions posted a huge total of 240 runs after put to bat first, with skipper Rajat Patidar playing a crucial innings in the middle order.
After a blistering start provided by Phil Salt and Virat Kohli, Patidar contributed with a quick-fire 20-ball 53. The RCB skipper hammered 4 fours and 5 maximums, functioning at a strike rate of 265. Moreover, it was his second consecutive fifty-plus score this season.
Patidar’s innings left the experts of the game quite impressed. Speaking on JioHotstar’s ‘Google Search AI Mode Match Centre Live’, JioStar experts Irfan Pathan called the 32-year-old batter
the biggest positive of RCB.
“Rajat Patidar has been a nightmare for bowlers. He comes in and starts attacking from ball one. That intent makes a huge difference. The moment he walked in, he set the tone, and every ball he faced looked like it could go the distance. He’s been the biggest positive in their batting line-up, and his approach is what really separates RCB’s total from the opposition,” Pathan said.
The defending champions rode on a dominant batting display to seize control, with Virat Kohli and Phil Salt laying the foundation through a 120-run opening stand, before Rajat Patidar and Tim David provided the late surge.
Kohli set the tone early, whipping Trent Boult over deep square leg for a stunning six. While he rotated strike efficiently, Salt took charge, targeting both Boult and Hardik Pandya with aggressive strokeplay. The Englishman was particularly ruthless against Mitchell Santner, smashing three consecutive sixes when the left-arm spinner missed his lengths.
RCB raced to 50 in just 4.2 overs, forcing an unusual early return for Jasprit Bumrah during the powerplay. Salt continued his onslaught against Mayank Markande, hammering three boundaries in an over, while Kohli chipped in with timely hits.
Mumbai finally broke through when Shardul Thakur dismissed Salt, caught by Hardik, ending a formidable opening partnership at 120.
Patidar then took over, punishing loose bowling to race to a 17-ball fifty, narrowly missing the record. His explosive 53 off 20 balls ensured momentum stayed intact, allowing Kohli to bring up a steady half-century before departing in the 15th over.
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