Ravichandran Ashwin Declares Rajat Patidar Equal To Shreyas Iyer After RCB Captain’s IPL 2026 Masterclass

Ravichandran Ashwin heaped massive praise on Rajat Patidar after the RCB skipper’s explosive knock against Gujarat Titans, saying the Bengaluru captain is now level with Shreyas Iyer in the IPL 2026 captain-batter debate.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru captain Rajat Patidar delivered one of the most destructive innings of IPL 2026 during Qualifier 1 against Gujarat Titans in Dharamsala. The RCB skipper smashed an unbeaten 93 off just 33 deliveries to guide his side to a mammoth 254/5, which became the highest total ever recorded in an IPL playoff match.

Patidar completely dismantled the Gujarat bowling attack with fearless strokeplay, hammering five fours and nine sixes at a stunning strike rate of 281.82. One of the standout moments of his innings came immediately after he reached his half-century, when he launched Kagiso Rabada for a sensational back-foot six over the covers.

RCB eventually crushed Gujarat Titans by 92 runs to seal their place in a second consecutive IPL final.

Ravichandran Ashwin Left In Awe Of Patidar’s Batting

Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin was hugely impressed with Patidar’s brutal batting display and labelled his six against Rabada as one of the finest shots of the tournament.

“That backfoot six Rajat hit off Kagiso Rabada was straight-up shot of the day, probably even a contender for shot of the tournament. How he even managed to generate that power from there is beyond me,” Ashwin was quoted as saying on his YouTube channel ‘Ash Ki Baat’.

Ashwin also stated that Patidar’s remarkable performance had changed the ongoing debate surrounding the IPL 2026 season’s best captain-batter combination.

“Before this knock, Shreyas Iyer was probably a bit ahead in the captaincy and batting conversations, but after tonight, Patidar is right up there,” Ashwin added.

The veteran spinner particularly praised Patidar’s ability against both spin and pace attacks, especially the way he dominated Rashid Khan.

“We all know how good Rajat Patidar is against spin, but the way he handled fast bowling today was seriously impressive too. And those sixes he hit off Rashid Khan… I’ve seen very few batters who can get onto the front foot, get right to the pitch of the ball, and still loft Rashid over extra cover for six like that. Pure class. Cometh the man, cometh the hour,” he said.

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Patidar’s Leadership Driving RCB’s Historic Run

Patidar’s rise as a leader has mirrored Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s resurgence over the last two seasons. After being appointed captain in 2025, the stylish batter guided the franchise to its maiden IPL title.

Now, with RCB reaching yet another IPL final under his leadership, Patidar stands just one victory away from helping Bengaluru achieve back-to-back IPL championships.

The 31-year-old has not only impressed with his captaincy but has also emerged as one of the most dangerous middle-order batters in the tournament. His fearless batting approach, calm temperament, and ability to dominate world-class bowlers have made him one of the standout performers of IPL 2026.

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With former cricketers and fans continuing to praise his consistency and leadership, Rajat Patidar’s stock in Indian cricket keeps rising rapidly after another unforgettable playoff performance for Royal Challengers Bengaluru.