Royal Challengers Bengaluru star Rajat Patidar took Sunrisers Hyderabad's Mayank Markand e to the cleaners by smashing four consecutive sixes against the leg spinner. Playing at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, RCB, after winning the toss, got off to a blistering start with Captain Faf du Plessis and Virat Kohli taking on the SRH new-ball attack.
The duo added a quick-fire 48 but after Faf's dismissal, Bengaluru lost momentum leading to Will Jacks' wicket. Coming in at no. 4, Rajat Patiadar was ready and waiting as he went all guns blazing from ball one. Batting at a score of 21 in 10 balls, Patidar came on the strike against Mayank Markande and was greeted with a wide on the second ball of the 10th over.
Then carnage ensured as Patidar smashed the SRH leg spinner for four consecutive sixes. The Madhya Pradesh star hit one maximum over mid-wicket while the other three went towards the off-side. This big-hitting masterclass helped Patidar complete a 19-ball 50, the second fastest for RCB.
Playing spinners, I try to maximise: Rajat Paitdar
Talking about his and his team's efforts in the first inning against the Sunrisers Hyderabad, Rajat Paitdar said, "I think the surface is double-paced, especially for fast bowlers. Cutters can be used. The spinners will try to bowl back of a length as much as possible. I was just planning my innings, I was not thinking about the century. (4 consecutive sixes vs Markande) It was not a plan but I started well in that over, I was trying to maximise."
"Playing spinners, I try to maximise. to take as many runs in an over as I can, to keep the pressure on the bowler. I was trying to maximise against the fast bowler as well, but I'll try in the next match. (Advice to the bowlers) We should use good slower balls on this wicket."