The announcement of India’s 16-member squad for the upcoming T20I series against England and Ireland has generated plenty of discussion among cricket fans and experts. While Shreyas Iyer’s return to the national side and his appointment as captain grabbed the biggest headlines, the inclusion of 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi also created history.
The teenage sensation became the youngest Indian male cricketer ever to receive a senior national team call-up. On the other hand, the exclusion of Suryakumar Yadav raised several eyebrows. However, one of the most debated selection decisions has been the omission of Rajat Patidar.
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The right-handed batter recently enjoyed a remarkable IPL 2026 campaign, leading Royal Challengers Bengaluru to a successful title defence. In doing so, Patidar joined an elite list of captains alongside Rohit Sharma and MS Dhoni as only the third skipper to win back-to-back IPL championships.
Sad no Rajat Patidar in the indian squad. What else he needs to do ? Scored 501 runs strike rate almost 200 . Unfair 💔 @rrjjt_01 Easily the best middle order in India . Proper striker with good technique
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) June 6, 2026
Patidar’s performances with the bat were equally impressive. He amassed 501 runs in 14 innings at a staggering strike rate of 192.69, underlining his value as a modern-day T20 batter. Despite those numbers, he failed to secure a place in any of India’s squads announced for the England series, the Ireland tour, and the Asian Games. His absence prompted former India spinner Harbhajan Singh to publicly question the selectors’ decision.
Taking to X, Harbhajan expressed his disappointment, stating that Patidar had done everything possible to earn a national call-up. The former off-spinner described him as one of India’s best middle-order batters, praising both his aggressive stroke play and solid technique.
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Addressing the selection debate, chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar explained that several deserving players were discussed before the final squads were finalised. Agarkar emphasised the depth of talent available in Indian cricket and acknowledged that some quality performers would inevitably miss out. While admitting that difficult decisions had to be made, he maintained that the selectors were satisfied with the balance and strength of the squads chosen for the upcoming assignments.
