IPL 2024: I was backing myself to be in good shape against every bowler – Rajat Patidar after match-winning knock against SRH

Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s in-form batter Rajat Patidar said he was backing himself to be in good shape against every bowler after their 35-run win versus Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, Hyderabad on Thursday.

Patidar joined forces with Virat Kohli at 65-2 after seven overs. The right-hander from Madhya Pradesh was able to hit the ground running, smashing Shahbaz Ahmed for a four on the second ball he faced.

Patidar then smashed Mayank Markande for four sixes on the bounce in the 11th over to put his team in front. The 30-year-old got to his fifty off just 19 balls and smashed two fours and five sixes in his knock. The right-hander scored his runs at a blistring strike rate of 250.

Thus, Patidar played a key role in helping RCB post 206 runs on the board after Faf du Plessis decided to bat first.

Patidar, who was awarded Player of the Match for his fine knock, said in the post-match presentation, “I was just keeping things in my mind that control the controllables. Whenever I go back home, I try to solve every problem which I faced. I go for skilful batting setup. Nothing like that (plan to target spin?). Today I was backing myself to be in good shape against every bowler.”

On the other hand, Cameron Green also played a key role in RCB’s win as he added the finishing touches, scoring a 20-ball 37. Green also accounted for his Australian skipper Pat Cummins and Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Furthermore, the lanky all-rounder took a crucial catch of in-form Heinrich Klaasen.

Green said after the win, “We always have to celebrate little wins and we feel pretty good now. [on batting first] It was. I definitely was not in agreement with that. Credit goes to captain and coach, SRH have been batting well – that was the main reason.”

He added, “I’m still early in my career, I’m still working it out, I like batting up the order and I’m working it out. [on Klaasen’s catch] The whole time I was thinking Klaasen, Klaasen in my head and it was up there for a while, happy I hung on. It is always nice to win one and have to enjoy this.”

Royal Challengers Bengaluru will next take on Gujarat Titans at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad on Sunday.