Experts' calls for Rajat Patidar's India return grow louder as T20I struggles continue

India's disappointing run in T20Is has once again reignited the debate surrounding Rajat Patidar's absence from the national setup. Despite enjoying another prolific Indian Premier League campaign and consistently delivering in domestic cricket, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru skipper was overlooked for both the Ireland and England T20I series.

Following India's latest defeat to England, former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has become the latest expert to advocate for Patidar's inclusion, believing the right-hander could address one of the team's biggest batting concerns.

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Irfan Pathan explains why India should bring Rajat Patidar into T20I setup

India fielded a heavily left-handed batting lineup during the second T20I against England, with six of the top seven batters being southpaws. Captain Shreyas Iyer was the lone right-handed batter in the top order after Sanju Samson made way for teenage debutant Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.

Pathan believes the imbalance makes a strong case for Patidar's inclusion, particularly given his ability to counter spin and maintain a healthy left-right combination in the batting order.

"Looking at the number of left-hand batters in the Indian T20 team right now, it's even more of a reason for Team India to look at Rajat Patidar going forward."

The former India all-rounder also pointed out that with the next ICC T20 World Cup still some distance away, the team management has ample time to test different combinations and identify the best possible squad.

Patidar's consistent performances strengthen selection case

Patidar's omission has surprised many considering the consistency he has displayed over the past few seasons. Leading Royal Challengers Bengaluru in IPL 2026, the right-hander amassed 501 runs in 14 innings, averaging 41.75 while striking at a remarkable 192.69. His campaign included five half-centuries, 42 sixes, and 30 boundaries, making it his most productive IPL season since debuting in 2022.

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Rajat Patidar has also developed into one of India's most reliable players against spin bowling in the shortest format, adding further weight to experts' calls for his inclusion as India continues searching for the ideal batting combination ahead of future ICC events.