The not-so-known domestic sensation Rajat Patidar turned into an overnight star when he owned the biggest stage of his nascent career with a magnificent hundred that got Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) within a sniffing distance of title clash after out-batting Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) by 14 runs in the IPL Eliminator on Wednesday.
RCB will meet Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the second Qualifier on Friday, which will decide Gujarat Titans' opposition for Sunday's final Courtesy Patidar's 54-ball-112 not out which had 12 fours and seven huge sixes, RCB literally knocked the stuffing out of LSG attack, piling an imposing 207 for 4 in 20 overs.
A dejected LSG skipper KL Rahul blamed sloppy fielding for his team's hapless defeat in the quintessential match while acknowledging Rajat Patidar's brilliant hundred being the difference between the two teams.
"I think it's quite obvious - the reasons why we didn't win. We let ourselves down in the field. Dropping easy catches never helps. Difference was obviously Patidar playing such a knock. When someone in the top three scores a hundred, more often the team wins," Rahul said after the match.
Patidar was dropped thrice on the day en route his hundred and Rahul was livid with his team's fielding.
"They fielded really well and we were poor," he summed it up.
He however was happy that as a new franchise they finished in top four in their first season.
"We'll take back a lot of positives. It's a new franchise. We've made a lot of mistakes, every team does that. Have to try and come back stronger. It's a young team. They'll learn from their mistakes, go back home and try and be better players." There was special praise for Mohsin Khan, who once again was a shining star in an otherwise poor bowling effort.
"Mohsin showed everybody how good he is and what skill he possesses. As he grows with confidence, he'll be able to clock speeds which are much higher. He will learn and develop a few more skills hopefully by next season," the 30-year-old further added.
