Rajat Patidar is Nightmare for Bowlers: Irfan Pathan

Royal Challengers Bengaluru registered a comprehensive 18-run win over Mumbai Indians in the TATA IPL 2026 match. Cricket experts Irfan Pathan and Harbhajan Singh analysed MI’s shortcomings in the chase, RCB captain Rajat Patidar’s knock, Virat Kohli’s role, and Krunal Pandya’s spell with the ball. “There are concerns with the batting, no doubt, but the bigger issue starts with conceding 240. Having said that, chasing 241 on a pitch like this, you still expect them to get closer. The problem was the lack of a solid start in the Powerplay and losing wickets early, which put pressure on the middle order.” “In the middle overs, there were phases where they could have gone big but didn’t. Hardik Pandya got runs but never looked in full control, Tilak Varma has now had a few quiet innings, and players like Rickelton need to find more options against spin. Those small gaps made the difference.” On Rajat Patidar’s innings: “Rajat Patidar has been a nightmare for bowlers. He comes in and starts attacking from ball one. That intent makes a huge difference. The moment he walked in, he set the tone, and every ball he faced, looked like it could go the distance. He’s been the biggest positive in their batting line-up, and his approach is what really separates RCB’s total from the opposition.” Another cricket expert Harbhajan Singh assessed Virat Kohli’s innings: “Virat Kohli’s half-century came at a slightly slower pace. You could see he wasn’t fully satisfied, especially with the way Phil Salt was scoring at the other end. But his role was crucial. He ensured there were no early wickets and provided stability at the top. While players like Rajat Patidar and Salt played more aggressively, Kohli anchored the innings and allowed them to play their natural game.” “Against someone like Jasprit Bumrah, he was very cautious and played him intelligently, but he made sure to capitalise on the other bowlers whenever there was an opportunity.” On Krunal Pandya’s bowling spell: “Krunal Pandya was outstanding, conceding just 26 runs in four overs and picking up a key wicket like Suryakumar Yadav is a massive contribution. People often say he doesn’t turn the ball much, but in T20 cricket, it’s more about game awareness than big spin.” “He uses his angles, pace, and understanding of conditions brilliantly. We talk a lot about batters, but matches like these are won by bowlers, and Krunal was the biggest difference. For anyone who says spinners don’t work at Wankhede, this was a perfect example of how to adapt and use your skill intelligently.”



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