Rajat Patidar admitted on Saturday that he still regrets not making the most of his Test debut earlier this year. The Madhya Pradesh batter, who featured in three Tests against England in February but managed only 63 runs at an average of 10.50, is determined to earn another opportunity through consistent performances.

Patidar was drafted into the squad for the England series as an injury replacement, filling a gap in the middle order caused by several absences. His selection came on the back of strong domestic performances, earning him a reputation as a skilled player of spin. However, a mix of poor shot selection and some bad luck saw him dismissed by three different spinners across the series. As a result, he was replaced by Devdutt Padikkal in the fifth Test.

“I enjoyed being part of the Test team, but I do feel disappointed about missing the chance to prove myself,” Rajat Patidar reflected during a press interaction in Bengaluru. “Still, I’ve learned to accept failure as part of the cricketing journey. It’s important to move forward and take lessons from these experiences. I believe I can re-create that opportunity through hard work,” he said.

ALSO READ: Shoaib Akhtar Gives Bold Advice To Jasprit Bumrah For Quitting Test Cricket

Patidar’s recent domestic form has been encouraging. In the Ranji Trophy, he scored 427 runs at an impressive average of 53.37, including a century and a fifty. But his performances in the shorter format, particularly in the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT), have been exceptional.

The Royal Challengers Bengaluru star is currently the third-highest run-scorer in the tournament, amassing 347 runs in nine matches at a blistering strike rate of 182.6.

“I’m focused on sticking to my strengths and playing the way I have in the past couple of years,” Rajat Patidar explained. “My approach is simple—play one ball at a time and make an impact for my team. I don’t chase big scores; I focus on delivering what the team needs.”

ALSO READ: Sunil Gavaskar Slams Australian Media For Hypocrisy Over Siraj-Head Send-Off

With Madhya Pradesh set to face Mumbai in the SMAT final on Sunday, Patidar will be looking to cap off the tournament with a memorable performance, further strengthening his case for a spot in both the Test and T20I setups.