IPL 2022 | He set the game up for RCB: Shastri heaps praise on Rajat Patidar

After sailing through the playoffs with an acceptable performance and luck on their side, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) won the Eliminator fixture of the IPL 2022 against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). 

Coming as a replacement to injured Luvnith Sisodia, the lesser-known batter, Rajat Patidar found his hour of fame as he hit a magnificent 112* off 54 balls, which propelled RCB to post a score of 207 runs on the board. In his career-best IPL innings, the 28-year-old lit Eden Gardens with 12 fours and seven sixes.

In reply, the bowlers restricted LSG to 193 and won by 14 runs, with Josh Hazlewood emerging as the pick of the bowler with three scalps. 

In the latest interaction on Star Sports, the former head coach of the Indian team, Ravi Shastri, termed Patidar's innings as unique and reckoned that the RCB batter played like he has been playing IPL for the last decade. 

"When you have a special inning, like the one from that young guy Rajat Patidar. A replacement player batted like he's been playing the IPL for the last decade," said Shastri. 

Shastri felt that Patidar did not get drawn enough into the must-win fixture and set up the game for RCB with his stunning shots. 

"Stunning shots, brave… not affected by the occasion, not overawed by the opposition or its bowling attack. He was fantastic. He set the game up for RCB," Shastri added. 

In Qualifier 2, RCB will be up against the challenge of Rajasthan Royals (RR) on May 27 at Ahmedabad. It is expected to be a fitting fixture between both the teams, having one of the most balanced teams in the tournament.