The Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) captain Rajat Patidar played a brilliant knock in the 20th match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 against the Mumbai Indians (MI) on Monday, April 7.
Rajat Patidar played some innovative and unorthodox shots during his innings at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, and in the process, he nearly suffered a brutal injury.
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Rajat Patidar plays sensational innings against MI
Batting first in the match, the Rajat Patidar-led side managed to register a colossal total of 221/5 on the board despite losing Phil Salt in the first over itself.
First, Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal stabilized the innings by playing an attacking brand of cricket. Then, Rajat Patidar and Jitesh Sharma provided a perfect finish to the innings with their exceptional batting show.
Patidar attacked all the Mumbai Indians bowlers but thought about showing his innovative side in the 13th over of the innings against his counterpart, Hardik Pandya.
On the first ball of the over, Hardik Pandya bowled a full ball to Patidar outside off-stump and the RCB skipper moved across to scoop and managed to elevate it over the keeper for a four.
On the third ball of the over, Patidar escaped a severe injury. Pandya bowled a seam-up delivery on a fuller length to Patidar, who walked across and got low to scoop. He hit the bat off the face of the bat and it hit him straight on the helmet grill. Thankfully, he didn’t suffer a blow on his neck as things would’ve gotten serious if that happened.
Despite suffering a blow, Patidar didn’t stop showing his innovation as on the fourth ball, he hopped and played a superb uppercut for a four over the keeper’s head.
Watch: Watch: Rajat Patidar nearly suffers a brutal injury while playing unorthodox shots in MI vs RCB clash
Innovation at its best! ❤
Rajat Patidar brings out some unorthodox shots against his opposite number 👀
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Patidar finished his innings with a score of 64 runs in 32 balls. His knock was studded with 5 fours and 4 sixes.
I would go with RCB – Ambati Rayudu
Speaking on ESPNcricinfo ahead of the MI vs RCB clash, the cricketer-turned-commentator Ian Bishop backed Mumbai Indians to win the match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru at their home. He stated:
“I want to go with MI at the Wankhede. In terms of team, right? You’re talking team. Now, they’ll never win now that I’ve picked them. But I’m going to go with them because I think the hurt I saw on Hardik Pandya’s face, he actually cried after that loss at LSG. I think they’ll be jumping at the bit. So too will RCB, but just home advantage. I’m going to go with MI.”
The former India cricketer Ambati Rayudu, who was also part of the same panel, predicted that the Royal Challengers Bengaluru are an in-form team and they will beat the Mumbai Indians. He stated:
“RCB fan, but played eight years for Mumbai. You can’t take away Mumbai and CSK out of me, but definitely RCB look stronger. Just because Bumrah is returning, they are quite balanced, but I would go with form. And I would go with RCB.”
