Kolkata: Roped in by Royal Challengers Bangalore as a replacement, Rajat Patidar made the best of an opportunity by striking a scintillating unbeaten 100 in the IPL big stage to enable his side prevail over Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL eliminator here on Wednesday.
Patidar remained not out on 112 to bag the player of the match award.
"I have been timing the ball and that was the focus, instead of powering the ball. In the last over of the powerplay, when I was facing Krunal Pandya, the way I could execute my plans, I felt I could score big today," said Patidar after the game, which Bangalore won by 14 runs at the Eden Gardens.
"My focus was about cashing in on the opportunity and looked to play with the straight bat and time it. I don't come under pressure even after facing dots because of the ability I know I have. I wasn't picked up in the auction but was involved in my practice and that helped," said Patidar, who has been called to the side as a replacement for the injured Luvnith Sisodia for the remainder of ongoing IPL edition. (UNI)