Former Indian opener Kris Srikkanth heaped praise on Rajat Patidar after Royal Challengers Bengaluru registered an 18-run win against Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai on Sunday. Patidar scored a blistering knock of 53 runs off just 20 balls with the help of four fours and five sixes.

The RCB skipper was able to hit the ground running and took the MI bowlers to the cleaners from the get-go. Thus, he played an instrumental role in helping RCB post an above-par score of 240 runs on the board.

Patidar was on 44 runs off just 11 balls at one stage and did a fantastic job for his team. The RCB skipper smashed MI’s Mayank Markande for three consecutive sixes in the 12th over and Srikkanth said the leg spinner looked clueless against Patidar.

Kris Srikkanth said on his YouTube Channel, “Patidar smartly came in at No.3 ahead of Padikkal. He smashed Markande to Church Gate and Marine Drive. Markande lost his hands and legs and was clueless about where to bowl after Patidar’s assault. Hardik Pandya was also clueless. He gave laddus to Patidar by bowling Markande right away.”

On the other hand, Srikkanth also defended Virat Kohli’s knock of 50 runs off 38 balls. The 1983 World Cup-winning player said Kohli played perfectly and did the right thing in playing second fiddle to Phil Salt, who blasted 78 runs off just 36 balls.

“He (Kohli) played it perfectly and did the right thing. When Salt is hammering the bowling on one side, why do you want to lose a wicket? His strike rate was not bad at 131. He was just making sure Salt gets going there. His knock ensured RCB had two incredible partnerships,” said Srikkanth (via the aforementioned source).

Royal Challengers Bengaluru will next take on Lucknow Super Giants at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru, on Wednesday.