The cricketer-turned-commentator Aakash Chopra has labelled Madhya Pradesh batter Rajat Patidar as the biggest surprise package for the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022.
The 28-year-old Patidar, who joined RCB as a replacement for the injured Luvnith Sisodia for the price of INR 20 lakh, performed exceptionally well in the tournament.
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He smashed a terrific century against Lucknow Super Giants in the Eliminator to become the first uncapped player to smash a century in the Indian Premier League playoffs. Also, he smashed a half-century in Qualifier 2 of the tournament. Overall, he scored 333 runs in 7 innings at an average of 55.50 and a strike rate of 152.75.
Meanwhile, in a video shared on his YouTube channel, Chopra said that Virat Kohli used to be in Patidar’s shadow when they used to bat together. He elaborated:
“Rajat Patidar was the biggest surprise package – 333 runs in eight matches at a strike rate of 152. He was a surprise for everyone, probably even for himself.
“Whenever he has played, he has played with a strike rate of 152. He used to play with Kohli and Kohli used to be in his shadow and not once but many times.”
Chopra also applauded Patidar for his performance in the Indian Premier League 2022 Eliminator.
He said: “The knock he played in the eliminator, that’s the knock of the season for me, no one can play a better knock than that because there was pressure, the team was struggling, all the main players were dismissed.”
What a finisher’s role he played, I think that was absolutely gun – Aakash Chopra hails Dinesh Karthik
Chopra also named wicketkeeper-batsman Karthik as a big surprise package. He said that Karthik played a sensational role of finisher for the Faf du Plessis-led side.
He elaborated: “Dinesh Karthik was that surprise package. I personally felt that he has not been playing that regularly, doing broadcasting as well, plays a little for Tamil Nadu, he is not in the scheme of things for the main circuit.”
“But the sort of season he had, 330 runs at a strike rate of 183. Dinesh Karthik – thank you very much my friend for proving me wrong. What a finisher’s role he played, I think that was absolutely gun.”
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