Two IPL Titles, 501 Runs, Strike Rate of 192 — Yet Rajat Patidar Misses India T20I Squad

Royal Challengers Bengaluru captain Rajat Patidar has been left out of India’s T20I squad for the upcoming series against Ireland and England, as well as the Asian Games, despite playing a key role in RCB’s back-to-back Indian Premier League title victories in 2025 and 2026. The omission has sparked discussion among cricket fans and experts, particularly given Patidar’s outstanding performances with the bat over the last two IPL seasons.

The selection committee, headed by former India cricketer Ajit Agarkar, announced a revamped T20I squad that included several notable changes. Shreyas Iyer was named captain, replacing Suryakumar Yadav, while young batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi earned a call-up. However, Patidar's name was missing from the list despite his consistent contributions in the middle order and his leadership success with Bengaluru.

Addressing the decision during a press conference, Agarkar acknowledged that several deserving players had missed out due to intense competition for places in the national side. He said the selectors had discussed numerous candidates before finalizing the squad and believed the chosen group represented the best available combination. Agarkar emphasized that Indian cricket currently possesses a large pool of talented players, making selection decisions increasingly difficult.

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Patidar enjoyed an exceptional IPL 2026 campaign, scoring 501 runs at an impressive strike rate of 192.69. His innings featured 30 boundaries and 42 sixes, underlining his ability to dominate bowling attacks. The right-handed batter was particularly effective during the middle overs, where he consistently accelerated the scoring rate and provided momentum for his team during crucial phases of matches.

Statistics from the season highlighted Patidar’s impact. Between overs 12 and 16, he accumulated 234 runs from just 108 deliveries at a strike rate exceeding 216. During the death overs, his scoring became even more destructive, with a strike rate approaching 279. These numbers established him as one of the most dangerous middle-order batters in the tournament and a major contributor to Bengaluru’s title-winning campaign.

Despite those performances, the selectors chose to continue with players such as Tilak Varma and Shivam Dube in the middle-order roles. While Patidar remains outside the national T20I setup for now, his recent form and leadership achievements ensure he remains firmly in contention for future opportunities. With Indian cricket's depth continuing to grow, competition for places is expected to remain fierce ahead of major international tournaments.

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