Rajat Patidar Virat Kohli for RCB Gautam Gambhir Ajit Agarkar for India. Image Credits: X
The Royal Challengers Bengaluru have often found themselves surrounded by controversies, particularly because of the witty and sometimes provocative posts shared by their social media team.
Recently, RCB's official X (formerly Twitter) handle posted something related to Rajat Patidar that many fans interpreted as an indirect dig at India's selection committee, led by Ajit Agarkar, as well as head coach Gautam Gambhir.
Taking to their official X handle, RCB shared a picture of Rajat Patidar accompanied by a witty caption. The post quickly went viral, with many fans praising the social media admin for seemingly highlighting what they perceived as an injustice towards Patidar.
The Rajat Patidar Phenomenon In IPL 2026
Patidar enjoyed a phenomenal IPL 2026 season. Despite leading his side to yet another title, he amassed 501 runs in 14 matches at an impressive average of 41.75 and a staggering strike rate of 192.69, making it one of the finest seasons of his IPL career.
Given his outstanding performances, many Royal Challengers Bengaluru supporters expected him to earn a place in the Indian T20I setup.
Patidar Ignored While Shreyas Iyer Made India Captain
However, when India's squad was announced, Shreyas Iyer was selected and was even handed the T20I captaincy, replacing Suryakumar Yadav.
Rajat Patidar, meanwhile, was nowhere to be seen. This decision sparked debate among fans, many of whom viewed it as unfair considering Patidar's recent form.
Also Read- "Captaincy Was A Curse"- Twitter Reacts To Suryakumar Yadav's Rebirth In Mumbai T20
Some supporters even accused the management of overlooking deserving RCB players, a sentiment that has circulated on social media for years. There have also been occasional rumours among fans that Virat Kohli faced similar treatment in the past.
Against this backdrop, Bengaluru's social media team posted a graphic celebrating Patidar's achievements, accompanied by the caption, "Bro literally broke the door open and walked away."
The caption was widely interpreted by fans as a reference to Patidar's relentless performances. Instead of merely knocking on the door of the Indian team through strong domestic and IPL performances, Patidar had, metaphorically speaking, broken the door open.
Yet despite doing everything possible to earn selection, he was still left out of the national setup. The post generated significant discussion online, with many RCB supporters rallying behind Patidar and expressing their disappointment over his omission from the Indian squad.
Let’s take a look at how the internet reacted:
How Likely Is It For Patidar To Make It To The National Team?
While Patidar's path to the Indian team currently appears uncertain, his future in the game remains bright. After leading RCB to back-to-back IPL titles and producing consistently impressive performances with the bat, several cricket pundits and former players have publicly backed him for a national call-up.
However, there is one major concern working against him. Rajat Patidar is already 31 years old, and the Indian selectors appear to be heavily investing in younger players as part of their plans for the 2028 T20 World Cup cycle.
Patidar Not Totally Out Of Contention
The management is focused on completing a transition phase and building a squad that can serve India for several years.
Additionally, India's white-ball middle order is already packed with established and emerging talents such as Shreyas Iyer, Tilak Varma, and several other contenders.
This intense competition makes Patidar's inclusion more challenging despite his exceptional form. In the ODI and Test formats, his chances appear limited at present due to the depth of talent already available.
That said, T20I cricket could still offer him an opportunity. If Gautam Gambhir and the team management believe that Rajat Patidar's aggressive batting style can strengthen India's middle order or top order, a call-up cannot be ruled out.
Also Read- ECB Takes Massive Step To Please India By Ignoring England
