Former Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) captain Virat Kohli was all praises for Rajat Patidar and lauded him for his incredible knock of 112* in the IPL 2022 Eliminator match against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), which RCB won by 14 runs on May 25 in Eden Gardens in Kolkata.

Thanks to Patidar’s 112* filled with 12 fours and 7 sixes and contributions from Kohli (25) and Dinesh Karthik (37*), RCB posted 207/4 in 20 overs after they were asked to bat first by LSG captain KL Rahul, who won the toss.

Rahul led from the front in the tense chase, scoring 79, while Deepak Hooda made 45, but RCB bowlers held their nerve and managed to keep LSG to 193/6, winning by 14 runs. Now RCB will play Rajasthan Royals (RR) in Qualifier 2 on May 27 in Ahmedabad for a chance to play in the IPL 2022 final on May 29 against Gujarat Titans (GT).

IPL 2022: AB de Villiers reacts to Rajat Patidar’s blistering ton in the Eliminator

"I have seen many impact innings and many innings under pressure over so many years, but I have not seen better than how Rajat played today. 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.

So what he did was very, very special and I don't think that anyone should take that for granted. You should understand the excellence of his innings and appreciate as a cricketer to watch an innings like that,” Virat Kohli said while interviewing Rajat Patidar for IPL social media.

Virat Kohli further said that he couldn’t wait to go to Ahmedabad for the Qualifier 2, as RCB are into the play-offs for the third successive year but their IPL best has been two runners-up finishes in 2009 and 2016.

"Cannot wait to get to Ahmedabad and take the field again. We are just so excited and happy with how things have gone. We just want to go further in this tournament. Hopefully two more games and then we all can celebrate,” Kohli added.

(AFP inputs)