Wednesday night’s Eliminator was essentially a tale of two innings, similar and contrasting in equal measure. Batting boldly and beautifully, Royal Challengers Bangalore’s Rajat Patidar and Lucknow Super Giants’ KL Rahul brought a single-minded sense of purpose to the middle at a packed Eden Gardens, but it was the unbeaten 112 of the 28-year-old from Indore that won the day in the end.

‘They bowled really well’

“Just two more big hits could have gotten us over the line,” rued LSG skipper Rahul at the post-match media interaction. “It’s not that we didn’t try to hit the fours and sixes, but they bowled really well in the middle overs. I think Harshal’s [Patel] two overs in the middle pushed us back a little,” added Rahul after his 54-ball 79 went in vain.