Rajat Patidar has led RCB to two IPL titles. Image Credits - AFP
The Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) scripted history in the Indian Premier League (IPL 2026) by winning back-to-back trophies under Rajat Patidar's sublime leadership.
Rajat Patidar is regarded as a demolisher of spin bowling, and he plays pacers equally well. In the last two seasons, the RCB skipper smoked over 800 runs at a strike rate of 170.45.
However, despite his exceptional performances in the IPL, he has been ignored by the BCCI and the national selectors, who recently picked the Indian T20I squads for the series against Ireland and England, as well as the Asian Games 2026.
Rajat Patidar axed as BCCI picks squads for UK tour, Asian Games
As the BCCI picked teams for the tour to the United Kingdom and the Asian Games 2026, Rajat Patidar's name was axed from the 15-member squad.
Despite slamming over 500 runs while batting at number 4, he failed to earn his maiden T20I call-up for India.
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Moreover, the national selectors continued to keep their trust in out-of-form players like Tilak Varma and Shivam Dube, who remain in direct competition with Patidar for a middle-order spot.
Rajat Patidar goes nuts against Avesh Khan
Straight from the IPL 2026, Rajat Patidar is leading the Gwalior Cheetahs in the Madhya Pradesh T20 2026. Although his side is struggling in the bottom half of the points table, the stylish right-hander is batting like a dream.
In four matches, Patidar has smoked 151 runs in four innings, striking at a rate of 218.84. Moreover, he murdered Chambal Ghariyals' bowling, scoring 46 off 16 balls. During his innings, he clubbed two fours and four sixes - all the biggies came in an Avesh Khan over.
Among his gigantic hits, the 33-year-old batter slapped two biggies over mid-wicket and sliced one over third-man.
Watch: Rajat Patidar take on Avesh Khan with four sixes in an over
Apart from the four biggies, he also hit two boundaries as well - one against Avesh and the other off Tripuresh Singh's bowling.
Can Rajat Patidar get his chance for India in near future?
Although Rajat Patidar missed the recent selection, he can get his due run in the near future. The BCCI is currently focusing on the ODI setup with the 2027 World Cup, whose scheduled is released, closer than the T20I events.
With the T20 World Cup and the LA Olympics to be held in 2028, the selectors will need to test countless players for various spots, which means Patidar might get picked sooner or later.
Chief Selector Ajit Agarkar also mentioned Rajat Patidar after the RCB captain missed out on the team selections for the UK tour and the Asian Games 2026.
"We discussed a host of players. We think these 15 are deserving. There are a lot of good players in India. There are plenty who are good enough to walk into the team, but the guys playing are doing as well as they can. We think we've picked a good squad. There will always be players missing out, but we've picked a good squad, and we are happy with this one," Agarkar had said after the team selections.
Nevertheless, Patidar will next be seen against the Bundelkhand Bulls on Saturday.
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