Another season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) reached its conclusion on May 29 (Sunday). Both the new franchises LSG and GT exceeded expectations by qualifying for the playoffs, with the Hardik Pandya-led side winning the tournament in its maiden season. All teams went into the mega auction in 2022 with a clear strategy to build a team that will take them forward in the next decade. While some franchises succeeded in doing so, historically successful teams like CSK and MI found it tough.

Many players lived up to the hype, while a few others emerged as exciting prospects. Lucknow was one such franchise that was built superbly by Gautam Gambhir and Andy Flower. Few fresh talents were also unearthed like Mohsin Khan and Ayush Badoni. However, some didn’t live up to the expectations or couldn’t get a game this IPL.

Here is a list of 3 such players that LSG might release going into the next IPL:

1. Manish Pandey

Manish Pandey was bought by LSG for INR 4.6 crore after being released by Sunrisers Hyderabad. It was evident that he got the trust of Gautam Gambhir based on his successful stint with KKR when he was the captain. A middle-order batter who has delivered big in the past, including a match-winning knock in an IPL final, was a shadow of himself in this IPL.

It has been a turbulent year for Manish as he has now lost his place in the Indian team as well. LSG initially chose the right-hander to bat at three for the franchise, but a string of failures meant that he had to make way for other players. In all, Manish Pandey only managed 88 runs in six matches at a strike rate of 110 without any half-century.

The fact to note is that LSG didn’t suffer much despite his failures. Deepak Hooda stepped up in a big way scoring over 451 runs and delivering consistently. The emergence of Ayush Badoni is also a positive for the franchise. Considering the price tag of Manish Pandey, it looks likely that LSG will release him for another solid middle-order batter who can bridge the gap between KL Rahul at the top and Hooda and Stoinis in the middle to take the franchise forward.

2. Ankit Rajpoot

Ankit Rajpoot is a tall fast bowler from Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh. He has been a part of the IPL for some time now but has hardly got enough chances to showcase his skills properly. Having last played the IPL in 2020, Rajpoot was picked up by Lucknow for INR 50 lakh.

Rajpoot has played for CSK, KKR, KXIP (now Punjab Kings), and RR in the past. While he has shown promise to succeed at this level, inconsistency has always been his biggest enemy. Lucknow already has a settled bowling line-up with a combination of Indian and overseas players.

They have the variety of a fast-bowling allrounder in Jason Holder, and a pacer in Dushmantha Chameera. Indian quicks like Avesh Khan and Mohsin Khan have also performed splendidly throughout the season. It looks further unlikely that Rajpoot will get a game anytime soon, thus it looks likely they might release him and try to plug another hole in their squad.

3. Andrew Tye

Andrew Tye is another veteran who was picked this IPL as a replacement for Mark Wood. He has been successful in the IPL in the past and comes with a good reputation. He has previously represented CSK, RR, GL, and PBKS. His most successful years in the IPL came when he played for the Gujarat Lions and the Punjab Kings in 2017 and 2018 respectively.

Tye was picked into the playing XI early in the season. However, he proved ineffective in the three games he played for the franchise, picking just two wickets and going at over 9.5 runs per over. He was dropped later. Meanwhile, LSG has good options in Chameera and Holder to bank on.

Tye is not getting any younger now and is no longer a part of the Australian T20 side either. He is 35-years-old already and looks unlikely to play cricket much longer. He was picked for INR 1 crore as a replacement and might not be retained next year. LSG might look to get back Wood, but considering it is an Ashes summer next year with the World Cup, later on, they might opt for an overseas cover for him.

The 15th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) has just concluded with Gujarat Titans claiming the title in their debut season. It was a brilliant season for the Hardik Pandya-led side, which finished at the top of the points table. The Titans got the job done in the playoffs, winning back-to-back matches to claim the title. The tail-end of the season is when the big game players really have to step up.

We witnessed several match-winning performances during the course of the playoffs. On the other hand, a few reputed stars failed to bring out their A-game in the playoffs. Perhaps, the pressure of a knockout game got the better of them.

In this article, we look at the Best XI of teams in playoffs:

1. KL Rahul

Although KL Rahul ended up on losing side in the Eliminator, his knock deserves some praise. The opening batter scored 79 runs off 58 balls in a chase of just over 200 runs. One can argue that he could have been a bit more aggressive with his approach, and gone after the bowlers in the middle overs.

Nevertheless, Rahul did a pretty decent job with the bat. No batter except Deepak Hooda could contribute well with the bat, and supported his skipper well from one end.

The former Punjab Kings skipper ended yet another successful season with the bat, as he smashed 616 runs in 15 innings at a staggering average of 51.33. And, he also managed to take Lucknow to the playoffs in their debut season, which is surely a big positive going forward.

2. Jos Buttler (WK)

Jos Buttler has enjoyed a dream season with the bat in IPL 2022. The English batter stood up for his side in the knockout games, as he put on two terrific displays. The right-handed batter scored 89 runs off 56 balls against Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 1. Although that was not sufficient enough to win the game for Rajasthan, it was quite a valiant effort.

Buttler scored his fourth century of the season in Qualifier 2 against Royal Challengers Bangalore smashing an unbeaten knock of 106 runs off just 60 balls. That knock helped the Royals earn a spot in the finals for the first time since 2008, and he was also awarded the player of the match award.

Jos Buttler was again the top scorer for his side in the finals, scoring 39 runs off 35 balls. But the Royals collapsed with the bat posting only 130 runs with the bat. Buttler also won the Orange Cap for scoring a whopping 863 runs in the entire season.

3. Shubman Gill

Shubman Gill stepped up for his side in the last couple of matches. In fact, he was instrumental in Gujarat’s chases in the playoffs. The Indian batter scored a quickfire knock of 35 runs off just 21 balls in Qualifier 1 against Rajasthan Royals. Although it was not a big innings, it did have quite a bit of impact on a huge chase in terms of getting off the blocks quickly for the Titans.

In the final, Shubman Gill orchestrated a mature inning, scoring an unbeaten knock of 45 runs off just 43 balls. He batted right through the 18 overs, helping Gujarat chase down a tricky target if 131 runs.

The eventual champions lost a couple of wickets in the middle, but Shubman Gill’s calm innings really steadied the ship for them. Hence, the youngster certainly deserves a spot in the Best XI of teams in playoffs.

4. Rajat Patidar

Rajat Patidar rose to the occasion during the playoffs, as he was among the better players for Bangalore during the playoffs. He scored a blistering knock of 112 runs off just 54 balls against Lucknow in the Eliminator, which helped his side post a huge first innings total.

He came into bat after Bangalore lost their skipper, Faf du Plessis in the first over itself. The way he held the innings together was quite commendable. Rajat backed up his performance with another good knock in the Qualifier 2. He scored 58 runs off 42 balls against Rajasthan Royals, which meant that Bangalore atleast had something to defend.

The 28-year-old batted for almost 15 overs, scoring four fours, and clearing the fence on three occasions. Patidar was included in the squad as a replacement player and was brought into the XI towards the end of the league stage of IPL, but he made the most of his opportunities.

5. Hardik Pandya (C)

Hardik Pandya was not only a fantastic leader throughout IPL 2022 but also contributed with both, bat and ball during the course of the playoffs. The Indian all-rounder led Gujarat Titans to IPL glory, after thoroughly dominating the season, right from the onset.

He scored a quickfire knock of 40 runs in the seven-wicket victory over Rajasthan Royals in Qualifier 1, and also chipped in with a couple of overs. Hardik also managed to pick up the key wicket of Devdutt Padikkal at a crucial juncture in the game. In the final, he was awarded the player of the match, for his all-round performance.

The skipper constructed a well-made innings of 34 runs, and picked up three wickets in his four-over spell. Moreover, his wickets included some big fishes in the form of Jos Buttler, Sanju Samson and Shimron Hetymer. The wicket of Jos Buttler really turned around the game for Gujarat, given that Rajasthan lacked firepower in their lower middle-order.

6. David Miller

David Miller has had an IPL season of some magnitude, given how often he stood up for his side in high-pressure chases. The South African batter scored a match-winning knock of 68 runs off just 38 balls against Rajasthan Royals in Qualifier 1.

He smashed three huge sixes off Prasidh Krishna’s final over to take the Titans into the finals. The Protea batter followed it up with another handy knock in the final, where he scored an unbeaten knock of 32 runs off just 19 balls.

Gujarat had found themselves in a somewhat tricky situation when Miller walked out to bat in the middle, and the left-handed batter started taking charge right from ball one. In the end, it was quite a comfortable chase for Gujarat, who won with over 10 balls to spare.

7. Deepak Hooda

Deepak Hooda played just one innings in the playoffs, but such was the impact of his knock that he certainly makes into this lineup. The Lucknow batter scored 45 runs off just 26 balls against Bangalore in the Eliminator to keep LSG in the hunt during the steep chase.

Unfortunately, his efforts weren’t enough to take his side into the next round. However, given the situation he walked out to bat, it was quite a decent knock from his side. In a chase of 208 runs, Hooda walked out into the middle, with the score reading two wickets down fo just 41 runs.

Hence, it was Deepak Hooda’s short cameo which brought LSG back into the chase. The 27-year-old had a successful season with the bat, as he amassed 451 runs in 14 innings at an average of just over 32.

8. Rashid Khan

Rashid Khan went about his business in the playoffs rather silently. He was as effective as expected and lived up to his reputation in the entire season as well. The Afghanistan spinner conceded just 15 runs off his four overs in Qualifier 1, although he did not manage to pick up a wicket.

But given that most of the bowlers conceded more than 10 runs per over, Rashid Khan did a brilliant job. In the finals, Rashid Khan again conceded the bare minimum. The wrist spinner gave away just 18 runs in his four-over spell, and also managed to pick up the wicket of Devdutt Padikkal.

He applied the pressure in the middle stages of the innings, which made sure that Rajasthan did not chip away with easy runs. His contributions with both, bat and ball this season has played a huge role in Titans’ charge towards the title.

9. Mohsin Khan

Mohsin Khan was the pick of the bowlers for Lucknow in their defeat against Bangalore in the Eliminator. He conceded just 25 runs off four overs, picking up the crucial wicket of Faf du Plessis in the first over itself. The left-arm pacer hardly gave any easy runs, and smartly varied his pace.

The rest of the bowling attack went for plenty of runs, as no bowler except Mohsin Khan had an economy rate of less than 9. Avesh Khan, leader of LSG’s pace attack also conceded 44 runs in four overs, going at an economy rate of 11.

Mohsin Khan had a fruitful season with Lucknow as well picking 14 wickets in just nine matches and his overall economy rate read 5.96 which was exceptional.

10. Josh Hazlewood

Josh Hazlewood put up a couple of good performances in the playoffs. He managed to pick up three wickets in his four-over spell against Lucknow in the Eliminator. He did go for a few runs but managed to get the key wicket of KL Rahul right towards the end of the chase.

The Australian pacer was also effective in the second Qualifier which ended on sour note for Bangalore. The tall pacer picked up two wickets in his four-over spell, conceding just 23 runs.

Moreover, most of the bowlers went for plenty of runs, given that Jos Buttler was the man on a mission in the chase. The Aussie quick managed to pick up the wickets of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Devdutt Padikkal, which at least kept Bangalore in the game for a bit longer.

11. Prasidh Krishna

Prasidh Krishna did not have a great outing against Gujarat in Qualifier 1, where he conceded 40 runs in 3.3 overs, as David Miller took him to the cleaners in the final over. However, he bounced back pretty well, and picked up three wickets against Bangalore in Qualifier 2.

He picked up the wickets of Virat Kohli, Dinesh Karthik which completely changed the game and restricted RCB to an under-par total. Again in the final, he was taken for runs as he conceded 40 at an economy rate of 10. He did manage to pick up an early wicket in the form of Wriddhiman Saha, and was in fact quite good with the new ball.

Overall, Prasidh Krishna does make the cut into the side, given that he delivered a match winning performance against Bangalore in the second Qualifier.

Royal Challengers Bangalore’s wicket-keeper batter Dinesh Karthik has been reprimanded for breaching the Indian Premier League’s Code of Conduct under Article 2.3 of the IPL Code of Conduct on May 25 during RCB’s Eliminator match against the Lucknow Super Giants at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata.

The offenses are covered under various levels depending on the behavior and seriousness of the act. Article 2.3 of the Level 1 suggests the use of an audible obscenity during a match. This includes the usage of offensive words by the player, in any language, which is audible to the spectators, and the audience, either through the stump mics, or otherwise.

“Mr. Karthik admitted to the Level 1 offense under Article 2.3 of the IPL Code of Conduct and accepted the sanction. For Level 1 breaches of the Code of Conduct, the match referee’s decision is final and binding,” the IPL said in a statement.

While batting in the first innings of the clash against LSG, Karthik used offensive words out of frustration. Batting during the death overs, Rajat Patidar and Dinesh Karthik built up wonderful innings. Karthik moved towards his right trying to hit a wide ball to get some runs, but failed to do so and swung his bat in the air, thereby missing a shot. He shouted out of frustration using some abusive words that were recorded by the stump mic.

RCB to face RR in Qualifier 2

Speaking of the match, RCB were able to keep their IPL finals hopes alive as they defeated LSG by 14 runs in the Eliminator. Rajat Patidar and Karthik’s partnership helped RCB put up a target of 208 runs for LSG to chase. While it looked like the debutants would possibly do it as they started very well, RCB bowlers performed brilliantly to restrict them.

Winning the game, RCB made their way into the Qualifier 2 to lock horns with the inaugural champions Rajasthan Royals. Both teams are just one win away from entering the finals and facing the Gujarat Titans. The penultimate match of the league, the Qualifier 2 will take place today, May 27, at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

Former Team India head coach Ravi Shastri has questioned Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) skipper KL Rahul after the new entrants failed to chase down 208 against Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 Eliminator. The right-handed batter stroked 79 but he faced 58 balls and failed to finish the match for the team.

The right-handed batter’s approach during the middle-overs during the chase against the Red Army left several experts baffled. LSG skipper had a great start as he scored 26 runs off 17 balls during the field restrictions. However, the LSG skipper only managed to hit one boundary in the next seven overs, despite the required run rate climbing.

“They should have gone a little earlier. Sometimes, you wait too long but here, between the 9th and the 14th over, they should have been someone who should have been targeted, especially in that partnership,” Ravi Shastri told Star Sports.

“When Hooda and Rahul were going, I think even though he did as well as he did, KL could have taken a little more chances because Hooda was going. Take a little more chances and he could have targeted someone between the 9th and the 13th over because Harshal was going to come back in the end. If they had got the required rate down at the stage, that would have made RCB a little nervous,” Shastri added.

Talking about LSG vs RCB match, the Red Army on the back of an excellent century from Rajat Patidar crossed the 200-run mark in their allotted 20 overs. Virat Kohli and Dinesh Karthik also made some decent contributions with the bat. LSG pacer Mohsin Khan was the pick of the bowlers for the new entrants.

In reply, LSG batters including KL Rahul and Deepak Hooda tried their level best, but could not manage to win the game for their side. Patidar was adjudged the Player of the Match for his excellent contribution with the bat.

Rajat Patidar stunned the high-flying Lucknow Super Giants with a remarkable century in the Eliminator of IPL 2022. Batting first at the Eden Gardens, Royal Challengers Bangalore were off to a disastrous start as big guns like skipper Faf du Plessis, Virat Kohli and Glenn Maxwell failed to fire. However, Patidar was batting on a different track as he made a mockery of LSG bowlers.

From Avesh Khan to Ravi Bishnoi, the 28-year-old spared none and brought up his hundred off just 49 deliveries. He ended up scoring an unbeaten 112 as RCB won the crucial contest by 14 runs. Meanwhile, Kohli was mighty pleased with Patidar’s efforts as he lavished massive praises on the youngster. The former RCB skipper, who interviewed Patidar after the game, even stated that he hasn’t seen many better knocks than his teammate’s ton.

What Rajat Patidar did was very very special: Virat Kohli

“I told him as well after the game as well that I have seen many impact innings and many innings under pressure over so many years. I have not seen many better than how Rajat played today. Under pressure, big game, first uncapped player,” Kohli said while speaking to IPL.

“The magnitude of the game was so big that I was feeling the tension in the air because I have been in those situations where you have to cross the line as a team. What he did was very very special, I don’t think that anyone should take that for granted. You should understand the excellence of the innings and appreciate as a cricketer to watch an innings like that,” he added.

Meanwhile, RCB have now advanced to Qualifier 2, where they’ll meet Sanju Samson’s Rajasthan Royals with a place in the final at stakes. The encounter takes place at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Friday (May 27). Notably, RCB had qualified for the playoffs in the last two seasons as well but couldn’t go all the way. Hence, they wouldn’t like to miss the opportunity this time around.

It was a must-win game for both Lucknow Super Giants and Royal Challengers Bangalore in order to keep their hopes of playing the IPL Final alive, as the duo squared off in the Eliminator match of the IPL 2022 playoff. RCB emerged victorious as they took another step forward to get their maiden IPL title as they defeated LSG by 14 runs.

RCB faced a blow when they lost their skipper and opener Faf du Plessis for a golden duck, but Rajat Patidar stepped in and brought some much-needed energy to the innings by steadying the game alongside Virat Kohli (25 off 24). While he continued to lose his teammates at the wrong time and saw his team fall apart from one end to the other, he remained as cool as ice as he batted his way till the end of the innings.

Patidar (112* off 54) accelerated the entire innings and ultimately found an able companion in Dinesh Karthik (37* off 23), who has had a stellar season with RCB. Their unbeaten 92-run partnership propelled RCB to a massive total, thanks to multiple dropped catches by LSG. While LSG bowlers struggled towards the end of the innings, the duo utilized each and every opportunity thrown at them and built up the innings beautifully by adding 84 runs in the final five overs as RCB ended up scoring 207/4.

RCB enter Qualifier 2 by defeating LSG in a crucial game

LSG did not have the dream start to their chase as their in-form opener Quinton de Kock (6 off 5) had to walk back to the pavilion early. He smashed Mohammed Siraj for a six in the first over, but it was the pacer who had the last laugh as he scalped him on the very next ball. A similar scene occurred in the fifth over, when Manan Vohra hit Josh Hazelwood for back-to-back boundaries, but the Aussie planned his delivery to perfection and dismissed Vohra (19 off 11) to stop the havoc.

LSG had compiled 62 runs by the end of the powerplay, courtesy of KL Rahul’s destruction who hit Siraj for 17 runs but meanwhile lost two good batters. RCB’s celebrations did not last long as Deepak Hooda and KL Rahul stitched up a brilliant partnership in the middle to give their team the much-needed impetus. They batted for slightly more than 10 overs and added 96 runs for the third wicket.

Wanindu Hasaranga gave his team the required breakthrough when he sent Hooda (45 off 26) packing in the 15th over. Hazlewood got the pressure off his team when he scalped Rahul (79 off 58) and Krunal Pandya off consecutive deliveries in the penultimate over. Not much scope was given to the LSG batters as RCB defended their total with perfection in order to make their way into the Qualifier 2 and face the Rajasthan Royals.

Here are some of the best memes:

🤲 Rajat Patidar pic.twitter.com/pn7S4t34Vu

— Shivani (@meme_ki_diwani) May 25, 2022

Whenever match winning performance needed #RCBVSLSG pic.twitter.com/SjB6NOlG8S

— अजमेरी (@ajmeripoet) May 25, 2022

Sabko bahut ummiden hai pic.twitter.com/QHHgTGbxGM

— Professor ngl राजा बाबू 🥳🌈 (@GaurangBhardwa1) May 25, 2022

Gambir in dressing room to all fielders of LSG today #LSGvRCB pic.twitter.com/jRaJA1MmjE

— J  (@jaynildave) May 25, 2022

pic.twitter.com/OfJ6pI1uOX

— Manya (@CSKian716) May 25, 2022

जब पैसे सबसे ज्यादा आपको मिल रहो लेकिन सारा काम रजत पाटीदार करे : pic.twitter.com/2KysyC17xs

— Professor ngl राजा बाबू 🥳🌈 (@GaurangBhardwa1) May 25, 2022

Waah Patidar bhai #RCBVSLSG pic.twitter.com/HQukgBVS1R

— 2.0  (@Meme_Canteen) May 25, 2022

Jeet jao RCB 🤲 pic.twitter.com/a5zf1iZyWd

— Shivangi (@memekaynat) May 25, 2022

pic.twitter.com/IfgPuX4fwS

— Professor ngl राजा बाबू 🥳🌈 (@GaurangBhardwa1) May 25, 2022

First innings summary so far. #RCBVSLSG pic.twitter.com/iz2XuDvrEQ

— Sagar (@sagarcasm) May 25, 2022

MI watching RCB win the match pic.twitter.com/l53OrqyPXt

— Sagar (@sagarcasm) May 25, 2022

RCB fans after winning the Eliminator.🙂 #LSGvRCB pic.twitter.com/xmKWpQkXtS

— Lucky ❤️✨ (@LBerojya) May 25, 2022

Following RCB not for the faint hearted #LSGvRCB #IPL2022 pic.twitter.com/rkOSjsg8na

— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) May 25, 2022

RCB Next match
won with RR pic.twitter.com/0DlejZ2OB8

— Angoor Stark 🍇🇮🇳 (@ladywithflaws) May 25, 2022

Virat Kohli in entire match#LSGvRCB pic.twitter.com/8BvufGd9cd

— sunil the cricketer (@1sInto2s) May 25, 2022

Lucknow Super Giants’ IPL 2022 campaign has come to an end as Royal Challengers Bangalore advance to Qualifier 2. The Eliminator clash was a high-scoring affair as runs were scored for fun. However, a target of 208 was too big an ask for LSG as RCB recorded a 14-run triumph. Having scored a remarkable ton, Rajat Patidar was the chief architect of RCB’s victory.

Earlier in the contest, LSG won the toss and elected to bowl at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. As it had rained at the venue, the game started a little late. RCB got off to a terrible start in the knock-out game as skipper Faf du Plessis bagged a golden duck. Even Virat Kohli and Glenn Maxwell looked rusty and ended up scoring 25 and nine runs respectively.

While the big guns failed to fire, Rajat Patidar put up a stellar show and played one of the finest knocks in IPL playoffs. From Avesh Khan to Ravi Bishnoi, the dasher spared none as the ball was flying all over the park. He brought up his century off just 49 deliveries and walked back for an unbeaten 112. Meanwhile, the evergreen Dinesh Karthik also scored handy 37 runs and remained unbeaten too as RCB posted a mammoth 207/4 in their allotted 20 overs.

KL Rahul’s efforts went in vain

Chasing a massive total, LSG lost the in-form Quinton de Kock cheaply. Coming to bat at number three, Manan Vohra played some fine shots in the powerplay overs but perished for 19. The repair work was then done by skipper KL Rahul and Deepak Hooda, who added 96 runs for the third wicket. The latter was the aggressor in the partnership while Rahul played the anchor’s role.

Following Hooda’s departure for 45, Rahul shifted gears and kept the required run rate in check. He also brought up his fourth fifty of the season. Unfortunately for LSG, he was dismissed for 79 as RCB gained command in the game. Harshal Patel and Josh Hazlewood bowled brilliantly in the death overs and sealed the contest for RCB. LSG were eventually restricted to 193/6 in their allotted 20 overs, losing the contest by 14 runs.

Meanwhile, let’s look at how Twitter reacted to RCB’s triumph:

https://twitter.com/MishiAmit/status/1529536600165974016?s=20&t=nkq6pfJw6Uf8MlJaQKIylg

Exhilarating contest tonight at #Eden. Superlative performance by #RCB. Big congratulations to #centurion #rajatpatidar. Hoping for an electrifying qualifier 2 now ✌️#RCBvLSG #eleminator #EdenGardens

— Suresh Raina🇮🇳 (@ImRaina) May 25, 2022

Harshal Patel’s incredible calmness under pressure 👏 superb again in death overs. He is as much a hero as #rajat for this win in #RCBvLSG #LSGvRCB game. #RPSwing

— R P Singh रुद्र प्रताप सिंह (@rpsingh) May 25, 2022

Lucknow should be proud of their run. Next year they should return better and stronger @LucknowIPL

— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) May 25, 2022

Superb efforts by Lucknow Super Giants!! What an outstanding game displayed by the whole team. It's the journey and the process that matters. Well played boys!! #IPL2022

— Suresh Raina🇮🇳 (@ImRaina) May 25, 2022

#RCB Inching closer 🏆 finally ?#TataIPL pic.twitter.com/GFf30r7MKi

— S.Badrinath (@s_badrinath) May 25, 2022

Congratulations @RCBTweets well done #harshalpatel & #rajatpatidar what a win @imVkohli 🤲❤️🥰

— Aftab Alam 55 (@aftabalam55786) May 25, 2022

Eden mein Rcb ke fans dil garden garden.

— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) May 25, 2022

RCB 😜

— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) May 25, 2022

Following RCB not for the faint hearted #LSGvRCB #IPL2022 pic.twitter.com/rkOSjsg8na

— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) May 25, 2022

Zordaar Shandaar Dhamakedaar, Patidar. 🥳😊🤩

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) May 25, 2022

#rajatpatidar who is writing your script!! Who would have imagined that someone who wasn’t even part of RCB after the auction would go on to play one of best ever 💯? Well done #Rajat #RPSwing

— R P Singh रुद्र प्रताप सिंह (@rpsingh) May 25, 2022

In the all-important Eliminator of IPL 2022, Rajat Patidar made a mockery of Lucknow Super Giants bowlers and smashed a mighty fine century. While big guns like Faf du Plessis and Glenn Maxwell failed to make their bat talk in the knockout game, the youngster cleared the ropes for fun to keep Royal Challengers Bangalore in command. He brought up his century off just 49 balls and fans went berserk.

Social media got flooded with praises as Patidar played one of the finest knocks this season. It must be noted that the right-handed batter warmed the benches in the first half of the season and didn’t seem in RCB’s primary scheme of things. However, once opportunity knocked on his door, Patidar showed what he has up his sleeves.

Rajat Patidar cleared ropes for fun

While the right-handed batter has made several vital contributions this season, his best was unleashed in the all-important Eliminator clash. Patidar arrived in the middle after Faf du Plessis departed for a golden duck. Notably, it had rained at Kolkata’s Eden Gardens on the eve of the game and there was dampness on the track. Even Virat Kohli, who scored 25 off 24 balls, looked rusty during his stay in the middle.

However, that wasn’t the case with Patidar as he made an absolute mockery of LSG’s famed bowling attack. From Dushmantha Chameera to Avesh Khan, the youngster spared none as the ball was flying all over the park. His brilliance has certainly pushed LSG on the back foot and it would be interesting to see how the remaining contest pans out.

For the unversed, LSG finished third in the points table and RCB narrowly made it to the playoffs, finishing in the fourth place. Hence, they are battling it out in the Eliminator and the winner will advance to Qualifier 2, where Rajasthan Royals await them. It must be noted that Gujarat Titans have secured a berth in the finals and the winner of Qualifier 2 will join them in the summit clash.

Meanwhile, let’s look at how Twitter reacted to Rajat Patidar’s stellar ton:

Can I tweet twice about this Rajat Patidar’s inning ? BRILLAINT!

— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) May 25, 2022

Came in as a replacement for Karnataka Batsman Luvnith Sisodia and is today giving RCB more than a chance to win this eliminator with his century. Take a bow Rajat Patidar you made all of us proud today. #RCBvsLSG #IPL2022 pic.twitter.com/W4susn3obJ

— Amit Mishra (@MishiAmit) May 25, 2022

A fiery inning by #RajatPatidar 🔥 Got an opportunity and he lapped it up! Way to go, lad 👏 #LSGvRCB #IPL2022

— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) May 25, 2022

Rajat Patidar .. talk about producing when it really counts .. Incredible innings .. #RCB #IPL2022

— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) May 25, 2022

Rajit Patidar has played take a bow🙌🙌🙌.

— Ian Raphael Bishop (@irbishi) May 25, 2022

Innings of his life for RCB #Rajatapatidar 👏 👏

— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) May 25, 2022

Damakedaar #Patidar 👍❤️ #RCB @RCBTweets #Playoffs

— Aftab Alam 55 (@aftabalam55786) May 25, 2022

Rajat Patidar 🔥🔥🔥!! That’s it that’s the tweet !!! #RCB #IPL2022 @StarSportsKan @RCBTweets #rcbvslsg

— Veda Krishnamurthy (@vedakmurthy08) May 25, 2022

Who needs Faf, Virat & Maxwell when you have Rajat Patidar in your side. He is playing out of his skin right now 🤯😱💥💥#IPL2022

— Lisa Sthalekar (@sthalekar93) May 25, 2022

It can be difficult for an uncapped player to create his own identity amidst the superstars, but Rajat has made the no.3 spot his own. Another fine knock under pressure tonight, well played 👏🏽 #LSGvRCB #IPL2022 pic.twitter.com/T5QiWoKWRX

— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) May 25, 2022

Come on #RCB #RCBVSLSG

— Aftab Alam 55 (@aftabalam55786) May 25, 2022

Maiden IPL century by Rajat Patidar. One of the craziest knock in IPL Playoffs. Wasn't even part of RCB after the auction and in the most important game, he's playing a match winning knock. pic.twitter.com/gwsG9AeDON

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) May 25, 2022

Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) secured nine wins in 14 matches and were at the third spot in the IPL 2022 points table to qualify for the playoffs. Currently, they are up against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the Eliminator at Eden Gardens. Ahead of this league match, former cricketer Deep Dasgupta shared his views on the form of captain KL Rahul and LSG.

Dasgupta reckoned that Rahul’s role in the Lucknow Super Giants team is the same as that of Dhawan in the Punjab Kings (PBKS) team, where he is required to bat the bulk of the overs and steer the team to a strong score on the board. On being asked about Rahul’s strike rate being much lower than Quinton de Kock’s in the last league match, the former batter thinks if the middle-order of the LSG team had fired in the tournament, the LSG captain would have batted freely.

“I guess KL’s role is a bit like Dhawan’s role in the Punjab side, where there are a lot of good strikers of the ball and KL’s role would be to bat until the 16th over. If he bats through the first 10 overs, at times you think he has the ability to go a little bit quicker than he has been so far. But, as a captain, you know the middle-order hasn’t fired, apart from Hooda. If you had confidence in the middle-order and good form, we would have seen him batting more freely,” said Dasgupta on Sky247.net presents ‘Not Just Cricket’ Show on CricTracker.

Deep Dasgupta hails Lucknow Super Giants’ bowling unit

Thereafter, Dasgupta stated that he felt that the best bowling unit in the tournament should win the ongoing IPL season. He reckoned that along with the highest wicket-takers, the Lucknow bowlers have the best strike rate and averages as well. He added that in terms of defending the total, Lucknow has it all covered.

“I think the best bowling should win the match, and for me, Lucknow is the best unit. If you look at the names on the paper or the performance, they are the highest wicket-takers, with the best strike rate and averages as well,” added Dasgupta.

Preview:

Lucknow Super Giants and Royal Challengers Bangalore will play the Eliminator game of IPL 2022 on Wednesday. It will be the second game between both teams this season. RCB won the first game by 18 runs after scoring 181 runs for the loss of 6 wickets. LSG won 9 out of 14 matches and missed finishing in the second position in the points due to a lower net run rate than Rajasthan Royals.

RCB managed to win 8 out of 14 matches and finished in the fourth position in the points table. They defeated Gujarat Titans in the previous match by 8 wickets after chasing a target of 169 runs in 18.4 overs. Former captain Virat Kohli scored 73 runs off 54 deliveries and won the Player of the Match award. RCB would be hoping for a similar performance from Kohli in this game as well.

Match Details:

Lucknow Super Giants vs Royal Challengers Bangalore, Eliminator

Venue: Eden Gardens, Kolkata

Date & Time: 25th May at 7:30 PM IST and Local Time

Live Streaming: Star Sports Network and Disney+Hotstar

LSG vs RCB, Eliminator Pitch Report:

Batters are likely to get plenty of support throughout the match on this pitch. Pacers might find a lot of help initially which is why the team that wins the toss might look to bowl.

Injury News:

(will be added if there is any update)

Also Read: Blast is best T20 competition in the world due to its longevity: David Lloyd

LSG vs RCB, Eliminator Probable Playing XIs:

Lucknow Super Giants

Quinton de Kock (wk), KL Rahul (c), Evin Lewis, Deepak Hooda, Manan Vohra, Marcus Stoinis, Dushmantha Chameera, Krunal Pandya, Mohsin Khan, Avesh Khan, Ravi Bishnoi

Royal Challengers Bangalore

Virat Kohli, Faf du Plessis (c), Rajat Patidar, Glenn Maxwell, Mahipal Lomror, Dinesh Karthik (w), Shahbaz Ahmed, Wanindu Hasaranga, Harshal Patel, Mohammed Siraj, Josh Hazlewood

Top Picks for LSG vs RCB Dream11 Match:

Top Picks – Batters

Faf du Plessis:

He is the leading run-scorer for RCB this season and has led the team from the front. In the first game against LSG, he made 96 runs off 64 deliveries and won the Player of the Match award.

Deepak Hooda:

He has been in great form throughout the tournament. He has scored 2 half-centuries in last 5 innings. Hooda has made 406 runs in 14 matches at an average of 31.23 and a strike rate of 133.55.

Top Picks – All-Rounders

Glenn Maxwell:

He has been in excellent form with the bat since the beginning of the tournament and has been in great form with the ball as well recently. He has picked 5 wickets in the last 4 matches and has made 268 runs in 11 matches at an average of 29.77.

Top Picks – Bowlers

Wanindu Hasaranga:

He is the leading wicket-taker for RCB this season and has taken 24 wickets in 14 matches at an average of 15.08, an economy of 7.38, and a strike rate of 12.2.

Mohsin Khan:

In 8 matches, Mohsin Khan has taken 13 wickets at an average of 13.23, an economy of 5.93, and a strike rate of 13.3. He picked 3 wickets in the last game against KKR.

Top Picks – Wicketkeepers

Lokesh Rahul:

He is the leading run-scorer for LSG this season. He has made 537 runs in 14 matches at an average of 48.81, and a strike rate of 135.26. Rahul has scored 2 centuries and 3 half-centuries in the tournament.

Quinton de Kock:

He made the highest individual score of this season in the last game against KKR. De Kock scored 140 runs off 70 deliveries and won the Player of the Match award. He has made 502 runs in 14 matches at an average of 38.61 and a strike rate of 149.40.

LSG vs RCB Must Picks for Dream11 Fantasy Cricket:

Suggested Playing XI No.1 for LSG vs RCB Dream11 Fantasy Cricket:

Dinesh Karthik, Quinton de Kock (C), Lokesh Rahul, Virat Kohli, Faf du Plessis (VC), Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell, Krunal Pandya, Avesh Khan, Wanindu Hasaranga, Mohsin Khan.

Suggested Playing XI No.2 for LSG vs RCB Dream11 Fantasy Cricket:

Quinton de Kock, Lokesh Rahul (C), Virat Kohli, Faf du Plessis, Marcus Stoinis, Deepak Hooda, Glenn Maxwell, Krunal Pandya, Harshal Patel, Wanindu Hasaranga (VC), Mohsin Khan.

LSG vs RCB Risky Captaincy Choices:

Dinesh Karthik:

He has been in great form this season which has helped him earn a place in the Indian national team. He has made 287 runs in 14 matches at an average of 57.40 and a strike rate of 191.33.

Krunal Pandya:

He missed the last game against KKR and might make a comeback to the playing 11 in this match. He has taken 9 wickets in 13 matches for LSG at an average of 25.11, an economy of 6.64, and a strike rate of 22.6.

Player you should avoid:

Mahipal Lomror:

He has not been able to bat in 2 of the last 3 matches. You can avoid picking him in your fantasy team and pick some other in-form batters.

Note: Updated Fantasy teams and Playing XIs of every match will be provided in our Telegram channel if the information is available.

Disclaimer: This team is based on the understanding, analysis, and instinct of the author. While selecting your team, consider the points mentioned and make your own decision.