IPL 2022, Eliminator LSG vs RCB, Stats Review: Rajat Patidar's milestone, Wanindu Hasaranga's feat and other stats

Royal Challengers Bangalore defeated Lucknow Super Giants by 14 runs in the Eliminator of IPL 2022, played at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. A once-in-a-lifetime knock of 112*(54) by Rajat Patidar took RCB to 207/4. Much to the worry of the fans, the toss was delayed due to the rain. But the rain relented well on time to have a full twenty-over match. After the delay, KL Rahul won the toss and chose to field first.

Unburdened by the pressure of the playoffs, Mohsin Khan continued his dream debut season with the wicket of RCB captain Faf du Plessis for a first-ball duck. However, it was another uncapped player who came in after the wicket and stole the show. Rajat Patidar, after a run-a-ball start, broke all the shackles by scoring 19 runs in the last over of the powerplay, against Krunal Pandya. Virat Kohli at the other end, however, got dismissed at a disappointing knock of 25 in 24 balls. Soon, RCB also lost the dangerous Glenn Maxwell for a mere nine.

Despite no positive contribution from the trio of Du Plessis-Kohli-Maxwell, Rajat Patidar made sure that RCB did not suffer a collapse and lost yet another eliminator. The batters still continued to take risks, with fortune favouring their brave approach, as Patidar and Dinesh Karthik were reprieved due to dropped catches. The pair made a complete utilization of the life given to them, by scoring 84 runs off the last five overs. RCB finished with a total of 207/4 but weren’t guaranteed a win yet.

LSG had a higher opening partnership in their previous match, than the target they were set today. After batting whole twenty overs last match, the opening stand lasted only one over this time, as Mohammed Siraj dismissed Quinton de Kock after being hit for a six. Soon Josh Hazlewood got rid of Manan Vohra. The two batters at the crease, KL Rahul and Deepak Hooda, continued their remarkable form to share a remarkable 96-run stand leading the LSG fightback.

Wanindu Hasaranga dismissed Deepak Hooda after being hit for two sixes in the over which proved to be an important moment of the match. However, KL Rahul continued to take on the bowlers and the match was not decided yet. With 33 to win off last two overs and six wickets in hand, Josh Hazlewood began the over with three wides within two legal balls, but succeeded in taking the prized wicket of captain KL Rahul. He also took the wicket of Krunal Pandya next ball, that sealed the match for RCB. A couple of boundaries from Dushmantha Chameera had reduced the result margin, as RCB won by 14 runs.

4 – KL Rahul becomes the first ever player to score 600+ runs in four IPL seasons. Chris Gayle and David Warner did it in three seasons.

5 – Rajat Patidar becomes the fifth uncapped player to score a hundred in the IPL. The first four players are Shaun Marsh in 2008, Manish Pandey in 2009, Paul Valthaty in 2011 and Devdutt Padikkal in 2021. Remarkably, three of the four Indian uncapped players with a hundred have done it for RCB.

5 – Rajat Patidar becomes the fifth player to score a hundred in an IPL playoff, and the first uncapped player among them. The other four players who did it are Virender Sehwag, Shane Watson, Wriddhiman Saha and Murali Vijay.

10 – This is the tenth time Dinesh Karthik finished not-out in IPL 2022, which is now the joint highest by a player in a season. MS Dhoni was also not-out 10 times in 2014 season.

25 – Wickets taken by Wanindu Hasaranga in IPL 2022, becoming the second spinner this season with as many or more wickets, after Yuzvendra Chahal. Across all the other IPL seasons, Imran Tahir was the only bowler to pick 25+ wickets in a season (26 wickets in 2019).

49 – Balls taken by Rajat Patidar to score a hundred, which is the fastest hundred by an uncapped player in the IPL. The previous fastest was in 51 balls by Devdutt Padikkal.

112 – Rajat Patidar’s score today while remaining unbeaten, which is the highest score at the Eden Gardens in the IPL. He overtakes Mahela Jayawardene who scored 110* for Punjab Kings against Kolkata Knight Riders in the year 2010.

2016 – RCB win their first playoff match in the IPL since 2016.