Patidar began accelerating rapidly in the 15th over against Kulwant Khejroliya. A mistimed lofted stroke reached the ropes before he followed it with a stylish six over long leg, using the angle of the delivery brilliantly. He finished the over by clearing the ropes again and then finding the boundary, collecting 28 runs in a momentum-shifting over that firmly swung the contest.
The spinners found no relief either.
Rashid Khan, normally one of the toughest bowlers to dominate, became Patidar’s next target. A slightly short delivery disappeared over long-on before Patidar ended the over with a magnificent inside-out six over cover, dancing with the spin and hitting with complete freedom.
The assault intensified against Rabada. Patidar brought up a blazing fifty off just 21 balls with a brutal pull over deep mid-wicket and then immediately followed it with that stunning back-foot drive over cover. Few batters attempt such a stroke against high pace; even fewer execute it so cleanly.
By this stage, Patidar looked unstoppable.
Mohammed Siraj suffered next. A wide full toss was sliced over backward point for six before another over-pitched delivery was launched for four. Patidar had entered a phase where almost every scoring opportunity became a boundary.
Prasidh Krishna, in the last over of RCB’s innings, felt the full force of Patidar’s finishing assault. A full toss on the hips disappeared over backward square leg for six. Another massive hit straight back over the bowler pushed him into the nineties.
Patidar changed the pace of the innings almost single-handedly. He survived pressure, rode his luck, and then dismantled both pace and spin with equal authority. His 93 was more than just a collection of runs; it was an exhibition of fearless batting.