Before the IPL season began, the idea of a Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Punjab Kings final felt more like a bold prediction than a realistic possibility. But after RCB’s astonishing display in Qualifier 1, half of that prophecy has already come true – and on this evidence, whoever joins RCB in Sunday’s final will need to produce cricket far superior to what Gujarat Titans managed here.
Because this was not merely a defeat for Gujarat. It was a complete unravelling.
On the biggest night of their campaign, GT produced arguably their worst fielding performance of the season. There were dropped catches, missed stumpings, misfields that leaked boundaries and extra runs, and a general sense of panic once RCB’s batting unit gathered momentum. Their plans with the ball were poorly executed, but it was the missed opportunities in the field that hurt the most.
None proved more costly than the dropped catch of Rajat Patidar when he was on 20.
What followed was absolute carnage.
Patidar unleashed one of the most extraordinary innings of the season, smashing nine sixes and racing to 93 off just 33 balls. Remarkably, at one stage he was only 21 off 13 deliveries before shifting into another gear entirely. It was clean, fearless and utterly destructive batting – the kind that can change the complexion of an entire tournament.
RCB’s assault had actually begun much earlier. Venkatesh Iyer came out blazing with 19 off seven balls, Virat Kohli struck a rapid 43 off 25, and Devdutt Padikkal chipped in with 30 off 19. Even when Jason Holder briefly threatened to drag Gujarat back into the game with two wickets in the ninth over, Patidar and Krunal Pandya responded with a magnificent partnership that completely wrested back control.
No GT bowler escaped punishment as RCB surged to a mammoth 254/5 in 20 overs.
For many observers, Patidar’s innings also strengthened the argument that he deserves a place in India’s T20I setup. Six weeks ago, that suggestion may have sounded extreme. Now, it looks entirely reasonable.
In reply, Gujarat’s chase never truly recovered after RCB’s new-ball bowlers struck early to remove the openers. From there, it stopped being a question of whether Jos Buttler could pull off something miraculous and became a question of how long the inevitable would be delayed.
This was a huge victory for RCB. But perhaps more importantly, a frightening warning for whoever awaits them in Sunday’s final.
