It was a challenging start for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in their ipl 2026 struggle against Rajasthan Royals (RR)Because rain and a tricky pitch combined to test the batting lineup early on. The match at the Barsapara Stadium started after a delay of 70 minutes and once the play resumed, the conditions were clearly in favor of the bowlers more than expected.
RR captain Riyan Parag opted to bowl first and his decision paid off immediately. Jofra Archer made an immediate impact by dismissing Phil Salt on the very first ball of the innings. It was a perfect start for Rajasthan, setting the stage for a long evening for RCB.
Despite the initial setback, Virat Kohli tried to counter-attack by hitting boundaries with confidence. His quickfire 32 off 16 balls gave RCB some early momentum, but the pitch was not easy to trust. Devdutt Padikkal showed flashes of intent but could not convert his start and fell for 14 runs.
The pressure increased as wickets fell at regular intervals. Ravi Bishnoi dealt a crucial blow by dismissing Kohli just before the end of the powerplay, leaving RCB struggling at 58 for 3. From there, the innings unraveled rapidly. Krunal Pandya, Jitesh Sharma and Tim David all failed to make significant contributions and RCB found themselves in deep trouble at 94 for 6 inside 11 overs.
At that stage, even a total of 150 looked uncertain. Rajasthan’s bowlers were in complete control, taking advantage of the uneven bounce and putting the batsmen under constant pressure.
Rajat Patidar played captaincy innings for RCB
With the innings in danger of collapsing, the responsibility fell squarely on captain Rajat Patidar. Leading the way in times of crisis, Patidar displayed not only skill but also remarkable composure under pressure.
Instead of going into survival mode, he chose a balanced approach – respecting good deliveries while punishing anything loose. His innings was a perfect blend of patience and aggression, especially on a surface where the timing of the ball was not straight.
Patidar steadily rebuilt the innings, first stabilizing the situation and then gradually changing gears. He scored a brilliant half-century and ensured that RCB crossed the 150-run mark, which at one time seemed impossible. His innings of 63 runs in 40 balls with four fours and four sixes was a testament to his ability to adapt and lead from the front.
The most special thing was that he had a strike rate of 157.5 on a pitch with variable bounce. He read situations smartly, chose his moments to attack and never let the pressure get to him. Even when wickets were falling around him, Patidar maintained his composure, took control of the innings and kept RCB in the contest.
Here is the video:
Counter Strike at its best🔥
🎥Rajat Patidar takes the lead by fighting 5️⃣0️⃣ under heavy pressure 👏
Update ▶️ https://t.co/X76bJjmq1j#TATAIPL | #khelbindaas | #RRVRCB | @RCBTweets pic.twitter.com/8gwVVhkpiI
– IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) 10 April 2026
His dismissal in the 18th over, when he was caught off the bowling of Sandeep Sharma, was the end of a truly impressive innings – one that had already shifted the momentum back in RCB’s favour.
Also read: Explained- Why are Jacob Duffy and Tushar Deshpande not playing today’s RR vs RCB IPL 2026 match?
Venkatesh Iyer’s last innings took RCB beyond 200.
While Patidar laid the foundation, the finishing touch came from the lower order, ensuring that RCB not only recovered but finished strongly. Impact substitute Venkatesh Iyer played a crucial role in the final overs, bringing much-needed energy to the innings.
Iyer’s quickfire 29 off just 15 balls provided momentum at just the right time. Their aggressive intent complemented Patidar’s consistency, and together they formed a crucial partnership that changed the complexion of the innings. The duo added 76 runs in the last five overs, a phase where RCB completely dominated.
Romario Shepherd scored 22 runs in 11 balls. His cameo ensured that RCB maintained the scoring rate even after Patidar’s departure.
Recovering from the critical situation of 125 runs for 7 wickets, RCB was successful in crossing the 200-run mark. Ended at an impressive score of 201 runs for 8 wickets..
