Why Rajat Patidar was ignored for India T20I call-up despite back-to-back IPL titles

Rajat Patidar's omission from India's T20I squad for the upcoming tour of Ireland and England has emerged as one of the biggest talking points from the team's selection on Saturday. The Royal Challengers Bengaluru captain was overlooked despite leading his side to a second successive Indian Premier League title and producing one of the standout batting seasons of IPL 2026.

Patidar's absence stood out in a squad that featured several significant changes, including the appointment of Shreyas Iyer as India's new T20I captain. Iyer replaces Suryakumar Yadav, who was dropped from the squad after a disappointing IPL campaign.

The selectors also handed a maiden international call-up to 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi as India begin planning for the Los Angeles Olympics and the 2028 T20 World Cup. Tilak Varma was named vice-captain, replacing Axar Patel. Nitish Kumar Reddy, Ravi Bishnoi and Prince Yadav also earned places in the squad, while Rinku Singh and Kuldeep Yadav missed out. Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah were rested for the tour.

India T20I squad announcement: As it happened

Chief selector Ajit Agarkar acknowledged that several deserving players had missed out, pointing to the depth of talent available in Indian cricket.

"We discuss a host of players. You don't just sit there and put down 15 names. There are a lot of good players in India. If you've watched the IPL or followed domestic cricket, there are plenty of players who look good enough to walk into the team. But the players already in the team are doing well too. We won a World Cup not too long ago. We think we've picked a really good squad. There will always be players who miss out, but you can only pick 15 and we're very happy with this group," Agarkar said.

Patidar's omission is particularly striking given the season he had with Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Having guided RCB to their maiden IPL title in 2025, he ensured the franchise built on that breakthrough rather than slipping backwards. Bengaluru successfully defended their crown, with Patidar leading from the front throughout the campaign.

The right-hander finished IPL 2026 with 501 runs at a strike rate of 192.69, combining consistency with aggression in the middle order. His tally included 30 fours and 42 sixes as he emerged as one of the most dangerous batters in the tournament.

The numbers become even more impressive when broken down by phases of the innings. Patidar scored only 37 runs from 43 balls in the Powerplay at a strike rate of 86.05, but his impact grew significantly once fielding restrictions were lifted. Between overs seven and 11, he amassed 152 runs from 80 deliveries at a strike rate of 190.

He was even more dominant during the middle overs. Between overs 12 and 16, Patidar scored 234 runs from 108 balls at a strike rate of 216.67, consistently putting opposition attacks under pressure. At the death, he maintained the momentum, scoring 78 runs from just 28 deliveries at a strike rate of 278.57.

Patidar played in RCB's title-winning campaign. While many middle-order batters either rebuild an innings or finish one, Patidar was able to do both. His ability to attack pace and spin through the middle overs often shifted the momentum of matches and allowed Bengaluru to maintain control of the scoring rate throughout an innings.

Despite those performances, India's middle order remains one of the most competitive areas in white-ball cricket. The selectors have largely retained faith in players who have already delivered at international level, while also introducing younger names viewed as part of the team's long-term plans.