IPL 2026: How Rajat Patidar Become One Of The Most Explosive Batters With Help Of Data Analytics

Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s IPL 2026 title defence leaned on experience, culture and bold play. A quieter factor sat in data. Captain Rajat Patidar said analyst Freddie Wilde helped him handle elite spinners like Rashid Khan, Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy.

Patidar had a strong season with the bat for RCB. He scored 501 runs in 14 innings. His average was 41.75 and strike rate 192.69. He hit 42 sixes, third-most in the tournament, and 30 fours. Twenty-seven of those sixes came against pace bowling.

His standout knock came in Qualifier 1 against Gujarat Titans. Patidar smashed 93 runs from 33 balls. He hit nine sixes and four fours in that innings. Seven of those sixes came off pace. The knock underlined his range against quick bowling.

Patidar said his progress against spin was just as key. “People always used to say I am a spin basher. But to be honest, picking the ball from their hands, the credit goes to Freddie because he helped me a lot,” he said.

How video analysis shaped Patidar’s spin game

The RCB skipper detailed how often he leaned on Wilde. “Four or five times in the IPL, I called Freddie. I needed videos of bowlers, especially spinners like Rashid, Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy,” Patidar explained while reflecting on his preparation methods.

Patidar wanted more than basic video clips or numbers. “I wanted to understand the differences in their deliveries and where I could pick them from,” he added. That work, he felt, sharpened his reading of the ball from the hand.

RCB’s data approach and Wilde’s wider role

Mo Bobat, Director of Cricket, RCB, outlined their data view. “We do not overly focus on data. But what we do share is a desire to have evidence-based decision making,” he said. He stressed that data supports, not replaces, cricket judgment at the franchise.

Bobat praised Wilde’s mixed skill set inside the setup. “He is able to manoeuvre between thinking like an analyst and also thinking and operating a bit like a coach. That is quite nice territory when someone can do that,” Bobat said about Wilde’s value.

“We can trust him in his communication with players and groups in a way that you might not always give analyst responsibilities,” Bobat added. Wilde also helps with auction preparation, squad building, tactical plans and player growth, including Patidar’s calm against high-level spin.