Rajat Patidar, the Madhya Pradesh batter, recently earned his Test call-up for India’s first two matches against England, seizing the opportunity after Virat Kohli opted out for personal reasons. Patidar, who endured a setback due to an Achilles Heel injury, expressed his elation at the call-up, considering it a dream come true after his recovery.
“Getting my first Test call-up soon after my recovery has to be my happiest moment. It is my dream to represent my country in Test cricket. It felt very good to get that call. I was playing India A matches and it felt really good,” shared Rajat Patidar in an interview with the BCCI.
Reflecting on his interactions within the Indian team, Patidar highlighted the significance of learning from stalwarts like Rahul Dravid and Rohit Sharma.
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“I have played a lot of matches in the domestic circuit with some of the India players. I have been interacting with Rahul Dravid sir since the last 2 series. I have not spoken to Rohit Sharma a lot but in this tour, I have listened to him talk about how to bat in different conditions. That gives me a lot of confidence,” he mentioned.
Bouncing back after injury 👏
Emotions on maiden Test call-up ✨
Learnings from Captain @ImRo45 & @imVkohli 🙌In conversation with @rrjjt_01 ahead of the 2nd #INDvENG Test 👌👌#TeamIndia | @IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/KU4FRyUuW2
— BCCI (@BCCI) February 1, 2024
Rajat Patidar emphasized his aggressive batting style, honed through years of domestic cricket, and credited Rohit Sharma for insights on tackling different field placements.
“I have an aggressive batting style and have batted like this since my domestic cricket debut. I have a habit of playing like that and have not changed a lot of things. I am learning how to tackle field placements from Rohit Sharma,” he added.
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Having shared the dressing room with Virat Kohli at Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), Patidar expressed his admiration for the batting maestro’s technique, particularly his footwork and body movement against pitched-up deliveries.
“Whenever Virat Kohli bats in the nets, I stand behind him and watch his movements. Especially his footwork and body movement against the balls pitched up to him, that I am trying to add relentlessly,” concluded Rajat Patidar.
