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Former Team India player and former Chennai Super Kings (CSK) spinner Ravichandran Ashwin believes that Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) captain Rajat Patidar deserves a comeback in the Indian cricket team.
Ashwin’s comments came after Patidar’s explosive and unbeaten 93 off just 33 balls in RCB’s 92-run win over Gujarat Titans (GT) in the IPL 2026 Qualifier 1 match at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamshala on May 26.
Rajat Patidar takes RCB to another IPL final
RCB has made its place in the final with Shubman Gill’s spectacular win over Gujarat Titans. They are just one win away from defending their title, which they won after almost 18 years, in 2025.
It was Patidar who stepped forward and led the team to break this tradition. Since RCB has many star players including Virat Kohli, Patidar is often less talked about among cricket fans. But this season he is in great form. The match-defining innings of 93 not out was a hallmark of his current form.
Patidar is entitled to join the Indian national cricket team
The Madhya Pradesh-born middle-order batsman and RCB captain has so far scored 86 runs in 13 innings at a strike rate of 196.76, making him the second-highest run-scorer for the team in this campaign.
Ravichandran Ashwin believes that the selectors of the Indian cricket team should now discuss the inclusion of Rajat Patidar in the team again. He has played three Tests and one ODI match so far in his career. Patidar’s last international match for India was a Test match against England at the JSCA International Stadium Complex in Ranchi on February 23-26, 2024.
R Ashwin said on his YouTube channel, “There should be a discussion. If it doesn’t happen, then something is wrong. Rajat Patidar played an important innings, but it is not the first time; his record in the qualifiers is excellent.”
Shreyas Iyer out, Patidar in?
After his brilliant performance in the playoffs, Ashwin is not putting Patidar ahead of Shreyas Iyer before being selected in Team India. Shreyas Iyer is considered one of the most successful and influential captains of IPL. But, since Patidar has already claimed one and may claim the other too, the former cricketer would like to see Rajat Patidar over Shreyas Iyer in the Men in Blue.
“Before this innings, Shreyas Iyer was a little ahead of Patidar. But after today’s innings, Rajat Patidar is right there. We all know how Rajat Patidar plays the spinners, but today, he did well against the fast bowlers too. It was surprising that none of the GT bowlers tested him with the bouncers,” Ashwin said.
“If Shreyas Iyer’s amazing form coincides with PBKS reaching the playoffs, [it would have been ideal]. I still think Shreyas Iyer is a contender, but if by captaining RCB and reaching the final with such an innings, who knows, he can even save the title, then it is important to talk about him. It is important not only to talk, but also to give him a chance.
Read More: Virat Kohli teases Shubman Gill and Gujarat Titans with wild gestures during Qualifier 1 (watch video)
