Control what you can and let it fly. This was the blueprint for Rajat Patidar’s match-clinching fifty against Sunrisers Hyderabad as the RCB batter lit the Hyderabad skies up with a blitzing fifty en route to his side’s 35-run win and a Player of the Match performance.

Kohli and du Plessis got off to a sensational start for RCB with the bat, but timely wicket-taking from SRH bowlers proved to be the kryptonite for RCB, as they struck at seemingly the right moments to break the momentum and push RCB onto the backfoot.

It worked, until Rajat Patidar stepped onto the crease and proved otherwise.

Patidar especially, was the ultimate jolt of energy and runs that RCB were craving as the batter came in to put up 50 runs off just 20 balls, as he lit up the Hyderabad skies on fire, with 2 fours and 5 sixes.

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“I was just keeping things in my mind that control the controllables. Whenever I go back home, I try to solve every problem which I faced. I go for skilful batting setup. Today I was backing myself to be in good shape against every bowler,” stated Patidar after receiving his Player of The Match award at a post-match interview.

Patidar’s fifty stood stark contrast to Virat Kohli’s measured 51 off 43 balls as RCB put up 206 for seven after opting to bat. But, regardkess it was indeed the partnership between Virat Kohli and Rajat Patidar, both of whom mustered up fifties of their own to bring hope to the RCB ranks again.

It was then an unexpected collapse of the SRH’s top-order which set RCB up for their victory.

Then, the likes of Yash Dayal and most importantly, Swapnil Singh followed suit as the top order of SRH, except for Abhishek Sharma, crumbled, and the hosts were poised at 56-4 within the fifth over.

Karn Sharma then bowled a magical spell in the middle, scalping two more wickets, in his first two overs, to push SRH to an abysmal 85-6.

Despite a spirited fight from skipper Cummins and Shahbaz Ahmed, SRH just could not close the gap as they ultimately fell short by 35 runs and handed RCB their second win of the season.