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Former Indian national cricket team all-rounder Irfan Pathan has supported the selection of Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) captain Rajat Patidar in the T20 team.
During the second T20I between India and England, Irfan Pathan told X that Rajat Patidar’s selection in the T20I squad is important as the current batting unit is loaded with left-handed batsmen.
India failed to win the second T20 match against England
India’s batsmen failed to get off to a great start in the second T20I against England at Old Trafford, Manchester, finishing with 190/7 in the allotted 20 overs.
Vaibhav Suryavanshi was in the headlines as he made his international debut at the age of 15 and scored 14 runs off 10 balls before being dismissed by Will Jacques.
Abhishek Sharma scored 43 off 24 balls, while Ishan Kishan (49), Shreyas Iyer (37), and Tilak Verma (24*) made useful contributions, but the visitors were unable to breach the 200-run mark despite reaching 65/2 inside the powerplay.
Ultimately the total proved inadequate as England achieved the target with four wickets in hand and an over to spare. Jacob Bethell smashed an unbeaten 76 off 46 balls, while Harry Brook (39) and Tom Banton (39) played crucial supporting roles to help England take a 1-0 lead in the five-match T20I series.
Irfan Pathan supports Rajat Patidar’s T20I selection
Following India’s defeat, former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan reiterated his call for Rajat Patidar to be included in the national T20I setup.
Pathan highlighted the balance that Rajat Patidar can bring to India’s batting unit, especially as there are many left-handed batsmen in the current squad.
Pathan posted on
Considering the number of left-handed batsmen in the Indian T20 team right now, this is a big reason for Team India to pursue Rajat Patidar.
I really hope he gets a chance, especially because Team India still has a lot of time to experiment…
– Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) July 4, 2026
Irfan Pathan also shared his views on India’s batting effort against England and praised match-winner Jacob Bethel for his patient innings under pressure.
“Jacob Bethel is a top quality player. He almost gave us a heart attack in the World Cup semi-final. Today he kept waiting for a big over in the run chase. Once he got it, it was all over. India should have got a score of over 200, especially with the kind of start they got,” Pathan said.
Jacob Bethel is a high quality player. He stopped us from having a heart attack in the World Cup semi-finals.
Today he kept waiting for a big over in the run chase. Once he found it, it was all over.
Especially the kind of start they got, India should have got more than 200.
– Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) July 4, 2026
The comments of the former cricketer have once again sparked discussion about Rajat Patidar’s prospects in India. As the team management continues to prepare for the next T20 World Cup, the 33-year-old’s name is increasingly being mentioned as a potential middle-order option who is capable of adding stability as well as power-hitting.
Rajat Patidar’s recent IPL heroics
Patidar strengthened his case for national selection in 2026 with another impressive IPL season for Royal Challengers Bangalore. The right-handed batsman scored 501 runs in 14 innings at an average of 41.75 and an impressive strike rate of 192.69, leading the franchise to the title win. He also scored five half-centuries with the highest score of 93*.
His 2026 campaign was his best IPL season in terms of both consistency and impact. Patidar hit 30 fours and 42 sixes during the tournament, and emerged as one of the most destructive middle-order batsmen in the competition.
Overall, Patidar has scored 1,612 runs in 57 IPL matches at an average of 33.58 and a strike rate of 164.48. His record includes one century and 14 half-centuries, underscoring his ability to perform consistently at the highest level of franchise cricket.
With India’s middle-order combination still developing and several months left before the next major ICC event, Pathan believes Patidar deserves a real chance in international cricket. Considering his recent IPL performance and ability to tackle spin and pace equally, the demand for his T20I debut is gaining momentum.