'I am a big fan of him...': Not Virat Kohli or Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Rajat Patidar lauds this star after RCB's eight-wicket win to seal berth in IPL 2025 final

'I am a big fan of him...': Not Virat Kohli or Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Rajat Patidar lauds this star after RCB's eight-wicket win to seal berth in IPL 2025 final
Phil Salt of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (L) and Rajat Patidar of Royal Challengers Bengaluru after win the match during the 2025 IPL Qualifier Finals match between Punjab Kings and Royal Challengers Bengaluru at New PCA Stadium

Story Highlights:

IPL 2025 final will take place on June 3.

RCB becomes the first team to seal berth in IPL 2025 final.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) captain Rajat Patidar lavished praise on teammates after their eight-wicket dominating win against Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the qualifier 1 clash of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 at Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, Mullanpur, Chandigarh.

Patidar lavished praise on spinner Suyash Sharma, who picked up three wickets against PBKS, conceding 17 runs in three overs. Patidar said that he doesn't give a lot of ideas to the leggie because it might confuse him. 

"Suyash chipped in well. He bowls in line of the stumps, which is his strength. I don't give him a lot of ideas, don't want to confuse him," Patidar.

Patidar also praised opener Phil Salt for his unbeaten match-winning fifty against PBKS. While chasing 102 runs, Salt played a 56 knock off 27 balls that helped the Bengaluru-based franchise to seal their berth in the final. 

ALSO READ: 'We have lost the battle, but...': Gutted Shreyas Iyer breaks silence after PBKS' humiliating defeat against RCB in Qualifier 1 of IPL 2025
 

"The way he is batting in every match, the way he is giving us starts, it is a treat. I am a big fan of him."

The skipper assured the RCB fans that there's just one match left before the party begins.

"Always thank RCB fans, wherever we go, we feel like it is our home ground. One more game, let's celebrate together."

RCB will now feature in the final of the IPL 2025, which will take place at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on June 3. On the other hand, PBKS will now play the Qualifier 2 against the winner of the Eliminator clash, which will take place on June 1. If the Shreyas Iyer-led side won that clash, then they would again face RCB for the title decider of the 18th edition of the cash-rich league. 

ALSO READ: PBKS vs RCB, IPL 2025 Qualifier 1 highlights: Suyash Sharma's three-fers, followed by Phil Salt's unbeaten half-century, help RCB to seal berth in IPL final after nine years
 

Coming back to the match, RCB raced to their first Indian Premier League final since 2016 with an eight-wicket pounding of Punjab Kings in a lopsided Qualifier 1. PBKS' ultra-aggressive approach backfired on the day as RCB skittled out the home team for 101 in 14.1 overs.

RCB, who are yet to win the IPL despite reaching three finals (2009, 2011, 2016) since the league’s inception in 2008, gunned down the small target in 10 overs courtesy a belligerent fifty from opener Phil Salt (56 not out off 27).