Rajat Patidar Playoff Fastest Fifty: Rajat Patidar has set the record for scoring the fastest half-century in the IPL playoffs. He completed his half-century in 21 balls and played an innings of 93* runs at a strike rate of 281.82.
IPL 2026 Qualifier 1: Rajat Patidar scored the fastest half-century in the playoffs
Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) captain Rajat Patidar scripted history with his explosive batting against the Gujarat Titans in the first Qualifier of IPL 2026. He claimed the record for the fastest half-century in the playoff stage of the tournament. Patidar reached his fifty in just 21 balls, smashing 3 fours and 5 sixes in the process. In this match, he played a sensational unbeaten innings of 93 runs.
Patidar became the fastest batsman to score a half-century for RCB in the playoff stage. Overall, Patidar has become the third-fastest player to score a half-century in a playoff match—a distinction he shares with another player.
Virender Sehwag and Dwayne Smith have also completed their half-centuries in playoff matches in 21 balls each. Suresh Raina tops this list; in 2014, Raina reached his fifty in just 16 balls against the Punjab Kings.
Fastest Half-Centuries in IPL Knockout/Playoff Matches (Based on Balls Faced):
- 16 balls – Suresh Raina vs Punjab Kings, Wankhede, 2014
- 17 balls – Adam Gilchrist vs Delhi Capitals, Centurion, 2009
- 20 balls – MS Dhoni vs Mumbai Indians, Bengaluru, 2012
- 21 balls – Dwayne Smith vs Chennai Super Kings, Delhi, 2013
- 21 balls – Virender Sehwag vs Chennai Super Kings, Wankhede, 2014
- 21 balls – Rajat Patidar vs Gujarat Titans, Dharamshala, 2026
Patidar Scored Runs at a Strike Rate of 281.82:
In the match against Gujarat, Rajat Patidar played an unbeaten innings of 93* runs off just 33 balls, which included 5 fours and 9 sixes. During this innings, his strike rate stood at 281.82. This magnificent innings by Patidar came at a time when batsmen like Venkatesh Iyer, Devdutt Padikkal, and Tim David had failed to make a significant impact.
