WATCH: Rajat Patidar's Thunderous Ton Against LSG In IPL 2022 Eliminator

LSG vs RCB IPL 2022: The fan favourites to win the IPL this year, Royal Challengers Bangalore, had a new hero in the all-important Eliminator match against Lucknow Super Giants, where Rajat Patidar scored a magnificent ton in the first innings after RCB's 'mighty three' were dismissed early. 

RCB captain & opener Faf du Plessis was dismissed for a golden duck in the very first over of the innings. Patidar joined Virat Kohli in the middle and became the aggressor in the powerplay. When RCB were just at 33/1 after 5.1 overs on a good batting surface, Patidar took charge.

Krunal Pandya came on to bowl the 6th over of the innings, and Rajat Patidar took on the left-arm spinner. The right-handed batter smacked 4,4,6 and 4 consecutively to collect 19 runs off the final over of the powerplay, taking the RCB total to 51/1 after the powerplay. 

With Virat Kohli (25), Glenn Maxwell (9) & Mahipal Lomror (14) dismissed in the 9th, 11th & 14th over respectively, Patidar didn't hold back as he kept scoring at a good rate. In the middle overs, LSG spinner Ravi Bishnoi looked dangerous as he dismissed Lomror.

However, Rajat Patidar took on the spinner, and smacked 6,4,6,4 & 6 in the 16th over, collecting 27 runs off the 16th over of the innings. RCB were at 123/4 after 15 overs and went on to smack 84 runs in the last 5 overs. 

Patidar stayed on the crease till the end, and was unbeaten on 112 runs in 54 deliveries with 12 fours & 7 sixes, maintaining a strike rate of 207.41. Rajat Patidar completed his century off just 49 deliveries, smacking the fastest ton of IPL 2022 till now. The 28-year old batter added 92 runs in 41 deliveries for the 5th wicket with Dinesh Karthik. DK also played an unbeaten knock of 37 runs in 23 deliveries with 5 fours & a six to help RCB to a total of 207/4. 

Also Read: IPL 2022 - Scorecard

Earlier, Lucknow Super Giants captain KL Rahul won the toss & opted to bowl first against Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Eliminator of IPL 2022. The winner of this match will face off against Rajasthan Royals in the Qualifier 2 on Friday (27th May), and the winner will clash against Gujarat Titans in the finals on Sunday (29th May). This match is being played at Eden Gardens, Kolkata.