table of contents
Legendary Indian opening batsman Virender Sehwag has made a bold prediction for Rajat Patidar after his stellar performance for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the ongoing IPL 2026. Rajat Patidar has been in sensational form and is leading the defending champions from the front.
The RCB skipper has so far scored 486 runs in 13 innings in the ongoing IPL 2026 at an impressive average of over 44 and a blistering strike rate of almost 197. Patidar played a record-breaking 93 not out off just 33 balls with a whopping strike rate of 281.81 to take RCB to the highest ever score in IPL playoff history (254/5) in Qualifier 1 against Gujarat. Titans.
Virender Sehwag makes bold prediction about India for Rajat Patidar
The captain’s explosive innings took RCB to the final of IPL 2026 as Gujarat Titans slipped to 162 runs while chasing a huge target in Dharamshala on May 26.
After watching Patidar’s explosive batting, Virender Sehwag feels that the RCB captain is now very close to getting a chance in the Indian T20 team.
Also Read: Virat Kohli teases Shubman Gill and Gujarat Titans with wild gestures during Qualifier 1 (watch video)
The former India opener was impressed by the way the right-handed batsman handled the pressure and completely changed the match with his aggressive batting while attacking the Gujarat Titans bowlers from all sides of the ground in Dharamshala.
Indian team is not far away at all: Sehwag
Sehwag praised Patidar for the patience he showed after the fall of early wickets. He believes that the RCB captain understood the situation perfectly and then attacked at the right time. The commentator also said that Patidar is ready for T20I cricket given his shot selection and confidence under pressure.
Virender Sehwag said on Cricbuzz, “When he came to bat, two wickets had fallen in the same over. From there he took charge of the situation, built up his innings and then created complete havoc at the end. He hit sixes in every direction; they were calculated hits. He knows what his strengths are; he waits for the ball. I am saying that the Indian team is not far away at all.”
‘It’s a big headache for the selectors now’: Mohit Sharma on Rajat Patidar
On the other hand, former Indian fast bowler Mohit Sharma, who was part of Gujarat Titans in the IPL, also believes that Patidar is making a strong case for selection in India.
The Men in Blue have T20 series against Ireland, England and Zimbabwe in the coming months and Mohit said Patidar is giving a big headache to the national selectors.
Also read: Sourav Ganguly expresses concern over Rishabh Pant’s T20 conditioning and leadership
Mohit Sharma said during the same discussion, “He is batting brilliantly. Now the question for him is how will you run things in the future? How can you play for India? How will the place be created?”
Virender Sehwag warns RCB despite dominance in IPL 2026 final
Meanwhile, RCB have sealed their place in the IPL 2026 final and will now face the winner of Qualifier 2. Gujarat Titans will face the winners of the eliminator, Sunrisers Hyderabad or Rajasthan Royals, for the remaining final spot on May 27.
And Sehwag warned Royal Challengers Bangalore against being overconfident. He believes RCB now have a huge advantage in using that extra time to prepare for the conditions at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad ahead of the title clash on May 31.
Sehwag said, “Just because they are in the final, they can’t relax. They have to prepare for it. It is their advantage that they will be able to practice there for 2 days. The other team who qualifies for the final will not even get a chance to practice there as they will have to travel on their break day. Also, RCB has played at that ground many times and won the title there as well.”