Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) skipper Rajat Patidar rewrote the history books during Qualifier 1 of the IPL 2026, launching a breathtaking assault against the Gujarat Titans (GT). Coming into the middle order, the right-handed batsman pulverized the opposition bowling attack, blasting an unbeaten 93 off just 33 balls*.

Decorated with 5 boundaries and 9 towering sixes, Patidar’s explosive knock propelled RCB to a monumental total of 254/5 in their 20 overs. In doing so, he shattered multiple long-standing records in the tournament's knockout history.

Equaling Warner in the Elite Captains' Club

With his unbeaten 93*, Patidar has risen to the top of the mountain for leading run-scorers as a captain in the high-pressure environment of the IPL playoffs. He now shares the all-time record with Australian legend David Warner.

Smashed in Six Innings: The Rapid Six-Hitting Infiltration

Patidar’s 9 maximums during the match marked the second-most sixes ever hit in a single IPL playoff encounter, falling just short of Shubman Gill’s record of 10 sixes against Mumbai in 2023.

However, his continuous boundary-clearing capability has fast-tracked him up the all-time leaderboard. In just 6 playoff appearances, Patidar has amassed an astonishing 24 tournament knockout sixes, putting him on the verge of overtaking absolute league icons who played for over a decade.

• Suresh Raina: 40 sixes (24 innings)

• MS Dhoni: 28 sixes (23 innings)

• Kieron Pollard: 25 sixes (17 innings)

• Rajat Patidar: 24 sixes (6 innings)

The All-Time Knockout Speed Threshold

The RCB captain set the tone for his innings by racing to a half-century in mere moments. Bringing up his 50 in just 21 balls, Patidar registered his personal fastest-ever playoff fifty, earning a permanent spot among the fastest knockout configurations in the history of the league:

Backed by this flawless showcase of power-hitting and strategic aggression, Patidar has not only put his team directly into the final but has firmly asserted his place as one of the most dominant big-match players in contemporary Indian cricket.