Rajat Patidar's unbeaten 93 powered Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) to a record-breaking 254/5 against Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 1 of IPL 2026, as the defending champions sealed a dominant 92-run victory at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamshala on Tuesday, 27 May. The win sends RCB into their second consecutive IPL final, and director of cricket Mo Bobat was quick to credit the captain's relentless preparation with the coaching staff.

Bobat Hails Patidar's Work Ethic

Speaking at the post-match press conference, Bobat pointed to the hours Patidar has put in with batting coach Dinesh Karthik and head coach Andy Flower as the foundation of his current form. 'He's worked incredibly hard on his game with both DK (Dinesh Karthik) and Andy Flower,' Bobat said. 'One thing about Rajat is that he middles the ball a lot. Whether it's pace or spin, front foot or back foot, the ball often hits the middle of his bat. That's usually a very good sign. He has really strong basics and a fearless intent.'

Bobat added that instilling that fearless intent has been a deliberate team-building exercise. 'Over the last couple of years, we've tried hard to make that the identity of our team,' he said.

A Captain Standing Up When It Mattered

Bobat described the knock as 'really special', noting the significance of a captain delivering in a high-stakes qualifier. 'He's certainly batting brilliantly right now and has done so throughout the competition. I'm sure he'll be very pleased to have stood up in such a big qualifier. Any team whose captain is playing well gets greater confidence from that,' he said.

Patidar's innings also featured what Bobat called 'outrageous shots', but it was the aggressive intent underpinning them that drew particular praise. 'That's leading by example,' Bobat noted.

Reading the Game: The Key to Patidar's Growth

One of the standout moments in Patidar's innings came after RCB lost quick wickets in the middle overs. Rather than forcing the issue, the captain chose a brief rebuild before launching a brutal assault in the death overs — a decision Bobat highlighted as the most impressive facet of his development this season.

'One of the things he's done really well this year is picking his moments. After a strong start from the top order, we lost a couple of wickets, and he recognised that it was time for a mini rebuild before accelerating again,' Bobat said. 'That ability to read situations and conditions, knowing when to go to top gear and when to slow things down slightly, has been the most impressive part of his development,' he added.

Patidar's IPL 2026 Numbers

The captain has been in exceptional form throughout IPL 2026, accumulating 486 runs in 14 innings at an average of 44.18 and a strike rate of 196.76. Those numbers place him among the most destructive batters of the tournament. With the final now in sight, RCB will be banking on their captain to deliver once more on the biggest stage.