Former Australian pacer Brett Lee couldn’t help but express his admiration for Rajat Patidar‘s masterful cover drive during the thrilling IPL 2024 encounter between the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Delhi Capitals (DC) at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.
Patidar delivered a stellar performance in the must-win IPL 2024 clash for the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) against the Delhi Capitals (DC) on Sunday, May 12. His fifth half-century of the season came at a very significant moment when the RCB needed such innings against the DC.
Batting at No. 4, the 30-year-old batter played a stunning knock of 53 runs off 32 offs studded with three boundaries and as many as maximums to help RCB post a competitive total of 187/9 on the board against Delhi. Later, Yash Dayal’s three-wicket haul helped RCB record a 47-run win over DC.
Brett Lee in awe of Rajat Patidar’s masterful cover drive vs DC
During the crucial IPL 2024 match, Patidar’s cover drive against DC pacer Mukesh Kumar left commentators and fans in awe of the RCB batter. The right-handed batter executed the cover drive with such perfection that Brett Lee himself compared it to the way Virat Kohli plays with finesse.
After RCB’s impressive 47-run win over DC in Bengaluru, the former Australian speedster and commentator said that even the spectators might have been mistaken in believing that it was Kohli who had executed the shot with such accuracy and beauty.
Lee further mentioned that Patidar’s cover drive was just exemplary, and he hopes that the Madhya Pradesh batter will continue to maintain his current form and provide valuable contributions to the RCB in their quest to qualify for the IPL 2024 playoffs.
Brett Lee said on Jio Cinema: “Well, the other thing, too, is that if you’re just flicked on your device, you’d think that’s Kohli right away. It’s his fifth half-century this season, you know, we know he’s played Test cricket, but it took him a while to get going.”
“But the great thing is that that cover drive he played that when we were on air commentating about, I mean, that’s about as good as it gets. It’s pleasing to see that he has found his form. Uh, hopefully, it can continue.”
Rajat Patidar finds his groove in the IPL 2024
Notably, Rajat Patidar has stepped into the shoes of struggling all-rounder Glenn Maxwell, and he is now confidently taking on the spinners effortlessly in the ongoing IPL 2024. He has already smashed over 20 sixes against the Spinners this season.
With his impressive innings of 52 runs against DC, Patidar now has 320 runs to his name from 13 matches at an amazing strike rate of over 179. On the other hand, it was RCB’s fifth straight win in the ongoing IPL 2024, and it took them to the fifth spot in the standings with 12 points from 13 games that they played so far in the league.
RCB will now have to beat the defending champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in their final league game on May 18 at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru to have any chance to qualify for the IPL 2024 playoffs.
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