The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) recently announced a highly revamped Indian men’s T20I squad for the upcoming tours of Ireland and England, alongside the Asian Games roster. While the selection brought massive headlines, including Shreyas Iyer taking over the captaincy reins from Suryakumar Yadav and a historic maiden call-up for 15-year-old batting prodigy Vaibhav Suryavanshi, it is a glaring omission that has sparked intense debate. Former India spinner Harbhajan Singh has openly voiced his frustration, strongly backing Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) star Rajat Patidar after the middle-order maestro was left out of India’s T20I plans yet again.
Harbhajan Singh slams selectors for ignoring Rajat Patidar in India’s T20I plans
Taking to social media shortly after the official squad announcement, Harbhajan did not mince words regarding the omission of the RCB captain. The legendary off-spinner questioned what more the right-handed batter needed to do on the domestic and franchise stage to earn the selectors’ trust.
“Sad no Rajat Patidar in the Indian squad. What else he needs to do? Scored 501 runs, strike rate almost 200. Unfair 💔 @rrjjt_01 Easily the best middle order in India. Proper striker with good technique,” Harbhajan posted on X (formerly Twitter).
Harbhajan’s public critique shines a spotlight on a selection puzzle that has left fans and pundits bewildered. Despite Tilak Varma being elevated to the vice-captaincy and a clear shift toward a younger T20I core, Patidar’s absence stands out as a massive anomaly, especially given his unparalleled impact in high-pressure situations over the past two years.
Sad no Rajat Patidar in the indian squad. What else he needs to do ? Scored 501 runs strike rate almost 200 . Unfair 💔 @rrjjt_01 Easily the best middle order in India . Proper striker with good technique
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) June 6, 2026
The stats and leadership milestones fueling the backlash
The core of Harbhajan’s frustration stems from Patidar’s meteoric rise as both a destructive batter and an elite leader. He famously guided Royal Challengers Bengaluru to their historic, maiden IPL title in 2025, breaking an agonizing 18-year trophy drought for the franchise. Far from a one-season wonder, Patidar doubled down on his success by captaining RCB to back-to-back silverware in the 2026 season, cementing his reputation as a modern-day icon.
From a purely analytical perspective, Patidar’s numbers make his exclusion incredibly difficult to justify in a format that heavily rewards intent and boundary-hitting:
| Metric | Rajat Patidar (IPL 2026 Statistics) |
| Total Runs | 501 runs in 15 matches |
| Strike Rate | Consistently clocking near 200 |
| Batting Average | 41.75 |
| Sixes Cleared | 42 maximums |
Patidar has uniquely mastered the art of biological acceleration in the middle overs, dismantling spin and pace with equal ferocity without sacrificing textbook cricket technique. By selecting an incredibly young roster but skipping over India’s most in-form, championship-winning middle-order anchor, the selectors have set up a high-stakes narrative for the upcoming tours. Whether this youthful experiment pays off remains to be seen, but for now, Patidar’s omission remains an unresolved controversy in Indian cricket.
Also READ: Rajat Patidar’s captaincy earns Sachin Tendulkar’s praise following RCB’s consecutive IPL title wins
