Rajat Patidar (Source: AFP)
After an ongoing sensational IPL 2026 campaign, Rajat Patidar has become one of the most talked-about players in the Indian cricketing circuit. The RCB captain played a massive role in taking his side to the IPL 2026 final and impressed fans with fearless batting and aggressive stroke-play.
Rajat Patidar’s biggest moment came in Qualifier 1 against the Gujarat Titans at Dharamsala. Leading from the front, the RCB skipper smashed an unbeaten 93 off just 33 balls at a strike-rate of 281.82.
Rajat Patidar’s IPL performance
The right-handed batter has enjoyed a fantastic IPL 2026 season so far. In 13 innings, he has scored 486 runs at an average of 44.18 and an extraordinary strike rate of 196.76.
Across his IPL career, Patidar has now played 56 matches and scored 1597 runs at an average of 33.97 with a strike rate of 165.14.
These numbers have naturally increased calls for his inclusion in India’s T20I squad. Many fans and experts believe he deserves a chance in the shortest format.
However, despite his incredible IPL form, there are still several reasons why Rajat Patidar may not be ready for a permanent place in India's T20I setup.
Why Rajat Patidar is far away from India T20 debut?
1) IPL Performance Has Been Outstanding, But International Cricket Is Different
- There is no doubt that Patidar has dominated IPL 2026. His ability to attack both pace and spin, especially in the middle overs, has been one of the biggest positives for RCB. Rajat Patidar's strike rate in the middle over is 203.97 in IPL 2026 (highest middle-over SR with min 100 balls faced), clearly showcasing his ability and fearless approach.
- However, IPL performances and international cricket are very different challenges. In the Ranji Trophy 2022-23, the star player scored 565 runs in 12 innings at a strike rate of 62.02 and an average of 47.08.
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- So based on these stats, he was selected for the Indian Team. He made his Test debut for India during the England series in February 2024 at Visakhapatnam.
- In six Test innings, he managed only 63 runs at an average of 10.50. In ODI cricket, he has played just one match and scored 22 runs against South Africa. But his performances in international cricket clearly showed that he was unable to handle the pressure at the international level.
- Even in T20 cricket, Patidar's consistency has been questionable. In 2025, he scored 425 runs in 21 T20 innings at an average of only 21.3. While his IPL 2026 season has been exceptional, selectors may still view it as a short-term purple patch rather than long-term consistency.
2) India's Problem Of Plenty at Nos. 3 and 4 In T20Is
- Another major reason why Rajat Patidar’s path to India's T20I team remains difficult is the intense competition for middle-order spots.
- India already have several established and in-form players competing for the No. 3 and No. 4 positions. Players like Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan, and Devdutt Padikkal are already fighting for similar roles.
- Suryakumar Yadav continues to be India's first-choice middle-order batter in T20Is, while Tilak Varma has impressed with his fearless batting. Shreyas Iyer has also delivered consistently in recent IPL seasons and remains an experienced option.
- Patidar's own numbers at No. 3 and No. 4 in T20 cricket are also mixed. At No. 3, he scored only 114 runs in six innings during 2025 at an average of 19.00. At No. 4, he made 387 runs in 18 innings at an average of 22.8 and a strike rate of 142.3 in 2025.
- Another issue is team balance. Patidar is a pure batter and does not provide any bowling option. In modern T20 cricket, and since India's think tank and management under Gautam Gambhir have preferred players like Riyan Parag, Axar Patel and Washington Sundar who can contribute across multiple departments, selectors often prefer players who can do the same.
3. Performance vs Spin and Pacers
- Rajat Patidar has undoubtedly improved against both pace and spin in IPL 2026, but selectors will still study his long-term numbers carefully before making a decision.
- Against pacers, his performances over the last three years have fluctuated significantly. In 2024, he scored 279 runs in 15 matches at an average of 23.3 and a strike rate of 166.1 (T20s). In 2025, his form dipped badly as he managed only 210 runs in 16 matches at an average of 16.2. (T20s)
- He improved in 2026, scoring 362 runs against pace at an excellent average of 60.3 and a strike rate of 192.6 (T20s) thus far.
- Against spin, Rajat Patidar has scored 905 runs from 513 balls at a strike rate of 176.4 and an average of 43.1 from 2021 to 2026 so far. He has shown excellent attacking intent against spinners and has regularly cleared boundaries with ease in IPL 2026.
- Still, selectors may want to see whether he can maintain this level over a longer period and against international-quality bowling attacks.
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