In a rain-reduced short dramatic battle, Rajat Patidar penned his name in the history books of the Indian Premier League (IPL) on Friday. While Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) went down to Punjab Kings (PBKS) by five wickets, everyone's eyes were on Patidar, who broke a record once held by none other than Sachin Tendulkar.

The game played under threatening dark clouds, was cut down to only 14 overs each side after showers in the evening swept in. Batting first, RCB scored 95 for nine, spearheaded by a brave knock by Tim David who hit a "counter-attacking 50 off 26 balls." But their score remained below being competitive enough against the aggressive chase by Punjab.

Josh Hazlewood made a fine effort with the ball, conceding "3/14", but his brilliance was overshadowed as PBKS completed the chase in 12.1 overs. Nehal Wadhera's wild 33 off 19 balls were decisive in ensuring Punjab's victory.

Not giving anything away @PunjabKingsIPL bowling attack has been top notch so far in the season #TATAIPL | #RCBvPBKS pic.twitter.com/9sBNA2EHjx

— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 18, 2025

Even in the loss, Rajat Patidar had a personal milestone to cherish. The RCB captain became "the second-fastest Indian to 1000 IPL runs in history." What made the moment special was the competition he left behind. In his 30th inning, Patidar overtook Sachin Tendulkar and Ruturaj Gaikwad (both have 31 innings), and Tilak Varma (33 innings), leaving just the record holder Sai Sudharsan behind with 25 innings.

Adding to the accomplishment, Patidar also achieved the distinction of "being the first Indian batsman in IPL history to hit 1000 runs with over a 35 average and more than a strike rate of 150." Not only does this twin record identify him with aggressive playing, but it also indicates steadiness, an asset much desired in T20 cricket.

The loss relegated RCB to fourth position on the points table with four wins and three losses from their seven games. PBKS, meanwhile, moved to second position with five wins from seven games, with good form in the middle phase of the tournament.

RCB will be eager to return the compliment when they face Punjab again in the reverse match on Sunday at Mullanpur. A win there would not only firm up their table position but also provide some confidence after a rain-affected loss.

For Patidar, though, this game will be remembered less for the result and more for the history he scripted. From being an emerging talent to now holding records next to cricketing greats, Patidar’s rise in the IPL has been nothing short of phenomenal. With a strike rate and average combination yet unmatched by an Indian, he is quickly becoming a beacon of RCB’s future.

As the tournament heats up, all eyes will be on whether Patidar can continue this record-breaking form and lead his team deep into the playoffs.