“Where is Rajat Patidar?” – Former India batsman questions Zimbabwe T20I team selectors

Rajat Patidar with the IPL trophy (ANI Photo) Former India batsman Hanuma Vihari criticized the Indian team management for dropping Rajat Patidar from the Indian T20I squad for the Zimbabwe series. Vihari believes that Patidar has earned the spot after his impressive performances and leadership at Royal Challengers Bengaluru, while also questioning the overall balance of the team.However, India got the series off to a good start by beating Zimbabwe by seven wickets in the opening T20I at the Harare Sports Club on Thursday to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match contest. After restricting Zimbabwe to 125/7, India chased down the target in just 13.2 overs thanks to a sensational half-century from 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who became the youngest player to reach a fifty in men’s international cricket. His 18-ball fifty featured four fours and four sixes. Earlier, Mayank Yadav (2/18) and Prince Yadav (2/19) bowled while India also named specific concussion substitutes for the first time, including Suryansh Shedge, Prabhsimran Singh, Harsh Dubey and Yash Thakur.

Vihari questions the balance of the team

Vihari said the selectors made some difficult decisions, especially when they left out Patidar despite the team having several left-handed batsmen. He felt that a right-handed batsman like Patidar or Sanju Samson would give the team better balance.“Rinku Singh was brought back, but where is Rajat Patidar? He led RCB to titles in two seasons and also did well as a batsman. He was also not counted on. These are tough calls from the selectors. Patidar should have been given a chance, especially when you look at the team, they are all left-handers. With so many left-handers, there should have been Patidar Yes or right-handers. Patidar Yes or Samson should have been there. I don’t think he will to play as Ishan Kishan will be the first-choice wicketkeeper,” Vihari said on his YouTube channel.

Vihari also supports Kuldeep and Samson

Vihari also questioned the omission of veteran wrister Kuldeep Yadav and batsman Sanju Samson. He pointed out that Patidar had scored 486 runs at a strike rate of 196.76 in IPL 2026 and felt that performance should matter more than age when selecting a team.“It is a serious case why Kuldeep Yadav was not included. He is an experienced wrist. Why didn’t you play him? Also, if you didn’t want Sanja Samson for the Zimbabwe series, you sent Prabhsimran. Good. But you didn’t even consider giving Rajat Patidar a chance. Why should age matter?” Vihari asked.“If you have taken many players who have featured in IPL, then why not Patidar? You have filled the team with left-handers. There is no right-hander except Shreyas,” he added.