After delivering a game-changing 15th over with two wickets, Hardik Pandya faced the full force of Rajat Patidar in his final over as the RCB skipper hammered 23 runs off the 17th over to bring up his half-century in just 25 balls.
The over started with a single from Jitesh Sharma, but it was Patidar’s blitz that followed — a massive six straight down the ground, another six square on the leg side, a stylish flicked four off the pads, and a single after a wide. Jitesh then capped the over with a boundary to third man.
Patidar reached his fifty off 25 balls, soaking in applause as he led RCB’s charge with clinical strokeplay. His knock included 3 sixes and 4 fours, and he finished the over unbeaten on 61 off 28 balls, striking at over 217.
Despite taking two key wickets earlier, Hardik ended with expensive figures of 4-0-45-2, as RCB powered ahead to 192/4 after 17 overs, placing themselves in a commanding position heading into the final three overs.
