‘I’m not worried about…’: Rajat Patidar after RCB’s storm to the IPL 2026 final

New Delhi: 93 runs, 0 runs, 9 sixes and a strike rate of 281.82 – That’s how Rajat Patidar lit up the HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala and led Royal Challengers Bengaluru to the IPL 2026 final with a dominating performance.

The RCB captain credited his fearless mentality and willingness to take on bowlers without fear of dismissal as the key behind his explosive form, after leading his side to a crushing 92-run win over Gujarat Titans.Patidar stormed the opposition with a 33-ball 93 not out, and an innings embellished with nine sixes and five fours, lifting RCB to a record tally of 254 for five – the highest ever total in an IPL knockout match.

In reply, the Gujarat Titans were completely outplayed and were bowled out by 162 runs in 19.3 overs to ensure the defending champions secured a place in the IPL final for the second time in a row.“(It was) a great match for us. The way the batsmen controlled, batting with intent, was good for us. It was not a clear plan, but we were ready for it, and we have to show some body language that we are ready for you. Every batsman showed that, with an attacking mentality,” Patidar told the radio after the match.

“I take a few 8-10 balls to see how the wicket is going and then I have a clear mind to do it. I’m not worried about my wicket. I try to put the player under pressure.”“It was not easy to get to the wicket under the ball and hit it, and there was variable bounce. The way GT have played so far, we were clear that we had to get their three key strokers out on the power play, and it worked,” he said.