RCB skipper Rajat Patidar forcing his way into team India's T20I squad conversations

Rajat Patidar is rapidly proving why he deserves a place in India’s T20I setup. After leading Royal Challengers Bengaluru to their maiden IPL title in 2025, ending an 18-year wait, the RCB skipper has continued to elevate his reputation with both his captaincy and explosive batting performances. Following his sensational innings against Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 1 of IPL 2026, cricket experts and former players have strongly backed Patidar for a national T20I call-up. Patidar produced one of the finest knocks of his IPL career in Dharamshala, smashing an unbeaten 93 off just 33 balls as RCB posted a mammoth 254/5, the highest total in IPL playoff history. Royal Challengers Bengaluru eventually crushed Gujarat Titans by 92 runs to book their place in a second consecutive IPL final, with Patidar emerging as the undisputed star of the night. The RCB captain tore apart the GT bowling attack, hammering nine sixes and five boundaries at a staggering strike rate of 281.82. He also took apart Kulwant Khejroliya in one over, collecting 28 runs with fearless strokeplay.Former India batter Ambati Rayudu believes Patidar should be one of the core players around whom India build their next T20I side as a fresh T20 World Cup cycle begins.“I think there are about two or three guys whose names I would write first and then build the squad around them, and he is definitely one of them. You need him in the T20 squad. There are no two ways about it,” Rayudu told ESPNcricinfo.Veteran spinner R Ashwin also strongly endorsed Patidar’s inclusion after the match, insisting that the conversation around his India selection must happen.“There must be a discussion. If it doesn’t happen, then something is wrong. Rajat Patidar played an important knock, but this is not the first time; he has a great record in Qualifiers,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.Ashwin was particularly impressed with Patidar’s stunning backfoot six off Kagiso Rabada, calling it one of the best shots of the tournament.“That backfoot six Rajat hit off Kagiso Rabada was straight-up shot of the day, probably even a contender for shot of the tournament. How he even managed to generate that power from there is beyond me,” Ashwin said.“Before this knock, Shreyas Iyer was probably a bit ahead in the captaincy and batting conversations, but after tonight, Patidar is right up there,” he added.