IPL 2022: Rajat Patidar becomes the first uncapped player to score century in playoffs

• Image Credit: Internet

• May 26, 2022 | Dhupali Das

Patidar had a fantastic day on the field, scoring an unbeaten 112 off 54 balls to help his team to reach a big total of 207/4 at the end of their 20 overs.

Digital Desk: Rajat Patidar of Royal Challengers Bangalore became the first uncapped player in the history of the Indian Premier League (IPL) to score a century in the playoffs on Wednesday. This achievement was achieved during his team's Eliminator match against the Lucknow Super Giants at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. Patidar had a fantastic day on the field, scoring an unbeaten 112 off 54 balls to help his team to reach a big total of 207/4 at the end of their 20 overs. He also became the first player from his team to score a century in the playoffs, surpassing Chris Gayle's 89-run knock against Mumbai Indians in the league's second qualifier in 2011.

Earlier, Manish Pandey set the record for the highest score by an uncapped player in IPL playoff matches during the 2014 season. He then scored 94 runs for Kolkata Knight Riders in the finals against Punjab Kings.

He is the league's fourth uncapped player to reach the century mark. Manish Pandey was the first one who struck an undefeated 114 against the now-defunct Deccan Chargers in 2009. Paul Valthaty (120* for Punjab Kings against Chennai Super Kings in 2011) and Devdutt Padikkal (101* for Royal Challengers Bangalore vs. Rajasthan Royals in 2021) are the other two uncapped players in the IPL century.

In the history of the IPL, so far, five centuries have been hit during the playoffs/knockout games. Shane Watson (117* for Chennai Super Kings against Sunrisers Hyderabad in the 2018 finals), Wriddhiman Saha (115* for Punjab Kings against Kolkata Knight Riders in the 2014 finals), Virender Sehwag (122 for Punjab Kings against Chennai Super Kings in Qualifier 2 in 2014) and Murali Vijay  (113 for Chennai Super Kings against Delhi Capitals in Qualifier 2 in 2012) are among them.  

Heading to the match, Rajat Patidar's undefeated century (112*) and his 92-run partnership with wicketkeeper batter Dinesh Karthik propelled Royal Challengers Bangalore to a mammoth 207/4 in their 20 overs against Lucknow Super Giants at Eden Gardens in Kolkata.

The RCB batting lineup had a great day as they blasted the opponents hard. LSG had no response to the batters' performance.

Royal Challengers Bangalore got off to a bad start as they lost skipper Faf Du Plessis for a golden duck after being asked to bat first by Lucknow Super Giants. After being caught behind by wicketkeeper Quinton De Kock, bowler Mohsin Khan continued his red-hot form by returning the big fish to the pavilion.

After the mishap in the first over, compatriots Virat Kohli and Rajat Patidar were tasked with rebuilding the innings. Both batsmen looked fantastic, taking the LSG bowlers to task. Kohli smashed two fantastic boundaries. Patidar smacked pacer Avesh Khan for two fours in the fifth over before ramping up his aggression in the sixth over, slamming spinner Krunal Pandya for 4,4,6,4.

RCB were 52/1 at the end of the powerplay after six overs, with Kohli (18*) and Patidar (33*) in fine form.

The duo quickly extended their 50-run lead. In the ninth over of the innings, Avesh Khan gave his team a turning point, dismissing Virat Kohli for 25 off 24 after he was caught at the third man while trying an uppercut. The duo's 66-run partnership came to an end.

This brought Glenn Maxwell to the crease, who made his intentions apparent by slamming Ravi Bishnoi for a six in the tenth over. RCB were 84/2 after 10 overs, thanks to Patidar (49*) and Maxwell (8*).

Patidar reached his half-century in just 28 balls, his second season. Maxwell, however, was dismissed for 9 by Krunal Pandya after being caught at deep square leg by Evin Lewis on the following ball.

Mahipal Lomror was called to the crease as a result. The batter helped RCB break the century mark with a boundary on the second last ball of pacer Dushmantha Chameera's 12th over, followed by another four at the conclusion of the over. The pair developed the innings before Bishnoi broke their 29-run stand when the batsman was caught at extra cover by skipper KL Rahul. Lomror was the one who was ejected for 14 of a possible 9.

The in-form hitter, Dinesh Karthik, came up next. In the 15th over, he escaped a catch attempt from Mohsin Khan.

RCB were 123/4 at the end of 15 overs, with 39 runs in the last five overs. In the last few overs, Karthik (5*) and Patidar (66*) had the challenge of boosting their team's score.

Patidar smacked a six off a Bishnoi ball on the second ball of the 16th over. He sustained his onslaught till the final ball of the over, scoring 92 off just 44 balls. RCB was on top at 150/4, with the over contributing 27 runs.

Karthik joined Patidar and smacked three fours in Avesh Khan's next over. With 15 runs in the 17th over and 42 runs in the 16th and 17th overs, the momentum had swung to RCB. The pair also put up a 50-run partnership in just 23 balls.

Mohsin was the next to be attacked. Patidar evaded a catch attempt and scored his maiden IPL century off just 49 balls at the next ball. The over yielded eight runs, with fifty runs scored in these three overs.

Karthik took advantage of an LBW attempt by Chameera in the 19th over by blasting a six and four consecutively. Patidar also hit a six and a four in the over, which yielded 21 runs.

Karthik hit Avesh Khan for four runs in the final over. In their 20 overs, RCB managed to score 207/4. Karthik (37*) and Patidar (112*), who put on an undefeated stand of 92 runs off 41 balls, provided a terrific acceleration with 84 hitting in the final five overs.

With 1/25, Mohsin Khan was the best LSG bowler. Krunal Pandya, Avesh Khan, and Ravi Bishnoi each received one scalp.