IPL 2022 | 'That wasn’t in my control'- Rajat Patidar on his IPL auction snub

Rajat Patidar didn't find any takers at the recent mega-auction, but that did not deter the youngster. Those things weren't my control, the right-handed batsman said on Wednesday night after smashing an unbeaten 54-ball 112 against LSG in the Eliminator clash in front of a packed Eden Gardens.

Patidar, who made his IPL debut last year, was released by RCB before the mega auction, where he went unsold despite having set himself a base price of Rs 20 Lakh.

As luck would have it, the Madhya Pradesh cricketer was eventually roped in as an injury replacement by the same franchise. On Thursday, Patidar immortalized himself into the annals of IPL folklore with one of the great knocks amid immense pressure.

"I was busy after the 2021 IPL playing for my club. I wasn't picked after the 2021 IPL, but that wasn't in my control," said Patidar during an interview with Star Sports.

Patidar came to bat in the first over of the innings following the dismissal of Faf du Plessis for a duck.

However, the right-hander said that he did not feel any pressure even when he was playing dot balls initially, as he knew he would eventually make up for it.

It was the last over of Power-play where he smashed Krunal Pandya for six and three fours that broke the shackles for Patidar, and given the way he was timing the ball, he indicated that a big knock was in the offing.

Rajat said that he relied more on timing the ball than powering it on his approach.

"I never feel any pressure as I think I have the ability to make up for the dots," he said. The last over of the Powerplay where he launched into Krunal Pandya gave him confidence that this could be his day after all," said Patidar.

"When I time the ball, my focus was on it. In the last over of the Powerplay, when Krunal was bowling to me, my execution went fine then, and I got confident afterwards. The wicket was pretty good, and I played some good shots," he added.

"I have been timing the ball, and that was the focus, instead of powering the ball. In the last over of the Powerplay, when I was facing Krunal Pandya, the way I could execute my plans, I felt I could score big today. My focus was about cashing in on the opportunity, and I looked to play with the straight bat and time it.

I don't come under pressure even after facing dots because of the ability I know I have. I wasn't picked up in the auction but was involved in my practice, and that helped," he concluded.

Patidar and Dinesh Karthik went on to smash 84 runs in the last five overs to help RCB rack up 207/4, which they eventually defended with 14 runs still in the bank.

Patidar became the first uncapped player to score a hundred in an IPL playoffs and the first RCB player to do so.

RCB will now face Rajasthan Royals in the second Qualifier on May 27.