Rajat Patidar's Exclusion from T20I Squads Raises Eyebrows

Rajat Patidar's IPL Success Ignored

Despite an impressive performance in IPL 2026, Rajat Patidar was not included in any T20I squads. The right-handed batsman led the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) to consecutive titles in 2025 and 2026. In the 2026 season, he amassed 501 runs over 14 innings, boasting a remarkable strike rate of 192.69, including 42 sixes and 30 fours. Notably, he scored an unbeaten 93 runs off just 33 balls in the first qualifier against Gujarat Titans (GT), propelling RCB to the finals. Former Indian opener Sadagoppan Ramesh expressed his concerns regarding Patidar's omission from the national team. He pointed out that while Shreyas Iyer was appointed T20I captain following his IPL achievements, Rajat's contributions were overlooked. Ramesh emphasized, "It’s time Rajat Patidar at least gets a chance in the T20I squad. If not, he should be considered for the India A tours as captain," in a video shared on Instagram.

Shreyas Iyer's Journey as Captain

Shreyas Iyer's success as captain

Shreyas Iyer has been recognized for his outstanding leadership in the IPL. Beginning his full-time captaincy in 2019, he led the Delhi Capitals (DC) to their inaugural final in 2020. In 2024, he guided the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to their third championship. Under Iyer's captaincy, Punjab Kings (PBKS) reached the IPL final in 2025 after an 11-year gap. The 2026 season started well for Iyer's PBKS, winning six of their first seven matches, but they faltered in the latter half, securing only one win and failing to progress beyond the league stage. Iyer has not participated in a T20I since December 2023 and has yet to be included in a T20 World Cup squad. As the vice-captain of the ODI team, he is set to make his debut as India’s captain against Ireland on June 26.