Rajat Patidar picks his top 5 iconic batting performances

Rajat Patidar is the fourth captain to win multiple IPL titles.

Cricket witnesses many memorable batting performances that remain etched in fans’ hearts and minds long after the match has ended. Even though Royal Challengers Bengaluru captain Rajat Patidar is a cricketer himself, certain special innings remain etched in his memory.

Patidar has recently offered an interesting glimpse into his cricketing perspective. He has picked the most memorable performances that left a deep impact on him and shaped his career as a cricketer. His selections were very diverse, encompassing Test, T20I, and franchise cricket.

During a recent appearance on the famous show Sports Launchpad, the two-time IPL-winning skipper made some very intriguing choices. Teammate Virat Kohli featured twice on his list. 

Rajat Patidar’s favourite batting innings

5. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi – 2 IPL centuries 

Patidar’s fifth selection looked towards the future. He picked Vaibhav Sooryavanshi‘s two IPL centuries among the most memorable innings he has ever witnessed.

The young star has scored two centuries in the IPL so far—the first in 2025 against Gujarat Titans (101 runs off 38 balls) and the second in 2026 against Sunrisers Hyderabad (103 runs off 37 balls).

Sooryavanshi became the youngest cricketer in IPL history to score a century. Also, his maiden hundred, which came off just 35 balls, remains the fastest by an Indian in IPL and the second-fastest overall.

4. Suresh Raina – 87 (25) vs Kings XI Punjab

The fourth selection was Suresh Raina‘s astonishing 87 off only 25 balls, which came in the IPL 2014 Qualifier 2 between Chennai Super Kings and Kings XI Punjab.

During this innings, Raina hit 12 fours and 6 sixes with a tremendous strike rate of 348. Unfortunately, despite Raina’s captivating innings, CSK eventually lost the high-scoring contest by 24 runs. 

3. Virat Kohli – 692 runs in the 2014-15 Border-Gavaskar Trophy 

Patidar’s third pick was not just a single innings, but Kohli’s magnificent performance throughout the entire 2014/15 Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

India were on their tour to Australia, and Kohli, for the first time, stood in as India’s Test captain due to MS Dhoni’s injury. Eventually, he was appointed as the Indian team’s full-time red-ball captain. 

Kohli amassed 692 runs at an average of 86.50, including 4 centuries across four Tests. It included a twin hundred in Adelaide, followed by two other centuries. This remained one of the most impactful performances by a visiting batter on Australian soil. 

2. Virat Kohli – 82* (53) vs Pakistan

Next came an innings of completely different calibre and temperament. Virat Kohli‘s unforgettable knock of 82* from 53 balls against Pakistan during the 2022 T20 World Cup at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. 

India were 31/4 at one stage, and Kohli helped them chase 160 with his unbeaten knock. He smashed a six off the final ball of Haris Rauf’s over, which remains one of the classic hits of his career. He played till the end to seal the deal for India at the MCG.

1. Sachin Tendulkar – 241* (436) vs Australia

When Rajat Patidar was growing up and dreaming of becoming a cricketer, he watched the legendary Sachin Tendulkar doing wonders. Hence, his first choice was Sachin’s monumental 241* off 436 balls against Australia in the 2004 Sydney Test.  

The highlight of that remarkable knock from the little master remains his grit for 613 minutes, during which he scored 33 boundaries without hitting a single cover drive, after being dismissed off that shot earlier in the series. 

For more updates, follow Khel Now Cricket on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Whatsapp & Telegram.