Former India cricketer Ambati Rayudu has thrown his weight behind Royal Challengers Bengaluru captain Rajat Patidar, insisting the stylish middle-order batter is not being ignored despite missing out on India’s white-ball squads for the upcoming tour of England. India are set to play five T20Is and three ODIs, beginning on July 1, but Patidar’s name was notably absent despite another outstanding domestic season.

Patidar has done little wrong over the past year. The right-hander enjoyed another prolific IPL campaign, scoring 501 runs in 14 innings at an impressive average of 41.75 and a strike rate of 192.69. More importantly, he captained RCB to a second consecutive IPL title, strengthening his reputation as both a dependable batter and an emerging leader. He carried that momentum into the Madhya Pradesh T20 League, where he amassed 306 runs in eight matches at a strike rate of 198.70.

Despite those numbers, Patidar was overlooked for national selection, leading to widespread debate among fans and experts. However, Rayudu believes the omission has more to do with the current balance of the Indian team than a lack of faith in Patidar’s ability. “I don’t think he is being overlooked. It is impossible to keep a talent like that away. I just think it is a matter of time.”

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“There is a spot that is not there for him in the Indian side. I don’t think he needs to prove anything in India A. He is a fantastic player who deserves an India cap. Whenever that happens, I am sure he will be the first name on the sheet,” Ambati Rayudu said.

The discussion around Patidar has naturally led to comparisons with Tilak Varma, whose place in India’s T20I side has come under scrutiny after inconsistent performances on slower pitches. While many believe Patidar should replace Tilak, Rayudu disagrees with that view.

“I would not say he deserves a spot in place of Tilak Varma. But he definitely deserves a spot in the team because he has performed exceptionally well. Tilak’s performances have been good on and off. He has struggled on wickets which are slow. If given an opportunity, he can go back and work on that side of his game,” Ambati Rayudu explained.

Rayudu also spoke about another major selection decision involving former T20 World Cup-winning captain Suryakumar Yadav. The star batter was dropped for both the Ireland and England tours after enduring a prolonged dip in form. Although the decision surprised many, Rayudu felt the selectors had valid reasons. “I know it is a very tough call after leading India to World Cup victory. But if you look at it from the selectors’ point of view, his last 20 innings have not been that great.”

“His form was a bit of a concern. It is very difficult to keep a place if you cannot contribute as a batter. But as a captain, he has been brilliant. I am sure there is a scope for a comeback,” he added.

India have since handed the T20I captaincy to Shreyas Iyer, but his tenure began on a disappointing note with a 2-0 series defeat to Ireland. Despite the setback, Rayudu urged fans not to judge the new skipper too quickly, pointing to the challenging conditions and limited preparation time after a demanding IPL season.

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“Shreyas has been a fantastic captain. I am extremely impressed with the way he has led sides in the past. He is very calm and composed. Our batters were not really prepared for these conditions. The results would have been very different if they had a week to prepare. So I would not read much into that loss at all,” Ambati Rayudu concluded.

With a challenging white-ball tour of England around the corner, India will now look to bounce back quickly. While Patidar continues to wait for his opportunity, Rayudu remains convinced that the RCB skipper’s international debut is only a matter of time if he continues producing consistent performances.