India, May 27 -- Royal Challengers Bengaluru did not merely beat the Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 1. They tore through the first playoff night with the kind of performance that changes the emotional temperature of a campaign and leaves the rest of the tournament staring at a new ceiling.

RCB's 92-run win over GT was the biggest victory by runs in IPL playoff history, going past Chennai Super Kings' 86-run demolition of Delhi Daredevils in the 2012 Qualifier 2. It was not a narrow record-breaker tucked away in the final over. It was a full-force statement, built first with the bat, sealed with the ball, and carried by a captain who turned a knockout night into his own command performance.

Rajat Patidar stood at the centre of it all. His u...