IPL 2026: RCB captain Rajat Patidar overtakes Chris Gayle in explosive six-hitting feat | Cricket News

Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s Rajat Patidar (ANI Photo)

Rajat Patidar added another major milestone to his growing IPL reputation after surpassing former Royal Challengers Bengaluru icon Chris Gayle in the list of fastest batters to complete 100 IPL sixes. The RCB captain reached the landmark in just 933 deliveries, going past Gayle’s tally of 943 balls and moving into third place on the all-time list. Only Andre Russell and Nicholas Pooran have reached the milestone quicker in IPL history.

Fewest balls to reach 100 sixes in IPL

Patidar achieved the feat during a pressure-filled chase against Sunrisers Hyderabad after RCB were set a daunting 256-run target. Hyderabad’s explosive batting lineup had completely dominated earlier in the evening as Abhishek Sharma blasted 56 off 22 balls, Ishan Kishan hammered 79 off 44 deliveries and Heinrich Klaasen smashed a destructive 51 off just 24 balls to take SRH to 255 for 4. RCB’s hopes of chasing down the mammoth total faded early despite a brisk cameo from Venkatesh Iyer. With qualification scenarios becoming clearer, Patidar shifted focus towards ensuring Bengaluru crossed the crucial qualification mark needed to secure a top-two finish. The RCB skipper produced a composed 56 off 39 balls and stitched together a crucial 84-run stand with Krunal Pandya. During that innings, Patidar reached his 100th IPL six and broke Gayle’s long-standing record. One of his towering hits off Pat Cummins also helped RCB officially seal a top-two finish despite the heavy defeat. Patidar’s rise as a six-hitter has been one of the standout stories of IPL 2026. His fearless approach against both spin and pace, combined with his ability to absorb pressure, has transformed him into one of the league’s most dangerous middle-order batters. Breaking a record once held by Gayle, arguably the greatest power-hitter in IPL history, further underlines how influential Patidar has become for RCB.