Rajat Patidar has the chance to be the second IPL captain to win back-to-back IPL titles. (Image: PTI)

We are coming for you: Rajat Patidar sounds warning as RCB storm into IPL final

RCB vs GT, IPL 2026 Qualifier 1: Rajat Patidar played a sensational innings to take RCB into the final of IPL 2026. After hammering Gujarat Titans, Patidar sounded a warning to the bowlers – we are coming for you.

27 May 2026, 03:53 by Kingshuk Kusari · India Today

In Short

RCB beat Gujarat Titans by 92 runs in Qualifier 1
Rajat Patidar played a captain's knock against GT
RCB qualified for their 2nd straight IPL final

"We are coming for you," Rajat Patidar was quite clear in his message after Royal Challengers Bengaluru stormed into the final of the Indian Premier League on Tuesday, May 26.

Patidar played one of the more realistic knocks in the IPL play-offs – 93* off 33 balls – to send Gujarat into the final of the tournament. The RCB captain, having returned from injury recently, lit up the final five overs of the first innings, taking RCB to the highest-ever total scored in the IPL play-offs: 254/5.

Patidar's bowlers supported his heroics admirably, bowling out Shubman Gill's side for just 162 runs. Speaking after the game, the RCB captain acknowledged that this was as perfect a game as it could get.

Qualifier 1, RCB vs GT: Highlights | Scorecard

"It was a super game for us. And especially with the way the batters were striking with intent, it was good for us," Rajat Patidar told the broadcaster in the post-match presentation ceremony.

Patidar said that RCB batters walk out to the crease with intent, making sure the bowlers know they are not going to be let off easy. In many ways, the RCB batters play their first shot before even settling down at the crease.

"You have to show some body language that we are coming for you. That was there in every batter. So we had a chat in the meeting to keep good body language. Everyone kept the attacking mindset," Patidar said.

The Dharamsala crowd saw that from the captain himself after he lit up the final five overs of the match. RCB scored in excess of 100 runs in the last five overs, completely turning the game on its head. By the time Gill and co. could breathe, the match had already slipped away from them.

Speaking about the construction of his innings, Patidar said that he wanted to take a few balls to settle down because the pitch was two-paced in nature. He added that his process remains the same: take 8–10 balls to settle in before launching an all-out attack.

"At the start, I take a few balls – 8–10 balls – to see how the wicket is behaving and how the bowler is bowling. Then I have a clear mind about how to go about it. After that, I am not worried about my wicket. I try to put the bowler under pressure," the RCB captain concluded.

The defending champions have now become only the fourth team in IPL history to make back-to-back finals. RCB will now take on the winner of Qualifier 2 in the final of the tournament. The summit clash is scheduled to take place at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on May 31.

- Ends