KOLKATA: Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) skipper Faf du Plessis couldn’t stop gushing about young Rajat Patidar, whose 54-ball 112 not out laid the foundation of RCB’s 14-run win over Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in the IPL Eliminator here at the Eden Gardens on Wednesday.
RCB restricted LSG to 193/6 after putting up 207/4 on the board. The winners of the Eliminator will now meet Rajasthan Royals in Qualifier 2, which will decide who faces Gujarat Titans in the final.
“I am over the moon. For a young guy to play like he did. The way he celebrated also tells you he has a good head on his shoulders. His hundred was one of the best I have seen in the IPL,” Du Plessis said after the match.

Patidar hit 12 fours and seven sixes in his knock and what impressed his skipper was how he played shots all around the wicket.
“He has got all the shots. Every single time he attacks, he transfers the pressure back on the opposition.”

No discussion is complete without a mention about RCB’s ‘King of Death’ Harshal Patel, whose 18th over proved to be decisive.
“(Patel is) A special card I can pick. He bowls the important overs. Second-last over from him changed the game for us,” Du Plessis said.