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The national selection committee did not even discuss appointing Rajat Patidar as the new T20I captain, according to a report by Jagran. Patidar led Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) to their second consecutive title in the IPL 2026 season, raising questions about the board’s approach to evaluating leadership candidates.
After the tournament concludes, India will return to T20I action on the Ireland tour in 2026. Following a short home series against Afghanistan featuring a Test and three ODI matches on home soil, the T20I squad will travel to Malahide for a two-match series against Ireland, starting on Friday, June 26.
Rajat Patidar Reportedly Not Considered for India’s T20I Captaincy
According to Jagran, Rajat Patidar was not part of India’s T20I captaincy discussions. The report claimed that selectors overlooked Patidar despite his success as RCB captain and suggested that Tilak Varma’s long-term leadership prospects may have been affected by his recent appointment as vice-captain.
“Notably, there was no discussion about appointing Rajat Patidar, who led RCB to two consecutive championships, as captain. Tilak’s future has also been blocked by appointing him vice-captain.”
The report also highlighted the poor IPL 2026 season of Suryakumar Yadav, the current T20 World Cup-winning captain. He scored 270 runs in 13 matches at an average of 20.76 and struggled for consistency throughout the tournament.
Selectors Prioritized Current Form and Future Planning
A senior board official explained the thinking behind the selection committee’s leadership decisions. According to the official, the selectors considered both current form and long-term plans while deciding the team’s leadership group for the upcoming international cycle.
“According to a senior board official, the selectors have decided on the new leadership keeping in mind the current form and future plans.”
After the Ireland tour in June, India will face a busy schedule. The team will travel to England for a five-match T20I series starting on July 1 in Chester-le-Street. They will then tour Zimbabwe for a three-match T20I series in Harare, which concludes on July 26.
Rajat Patidar’s Leadership And Batting Leave Selectors With Questions To Answer
Rajat Patidar’s absence from India’s T20I captaincy discussions has surprised many fans and experts after his excellent IPL 2026 season with Royal Challengers Bengaluru. He led RCB to a second straight IPL title, becoming only the third captain after MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma to successfully defend the trophy.
Patidar was also impressed with the bat, scoring 501 runs in 14 innings at an average of 41.75 and a strike rate of 192.69. He hit five half-centuries, playing several important innings under pressure.
In Qualifier 1 against the Gujarat Titans, he smashed 93 off 33 balls. He also scored 61 off 31 balls against Lucknow Super Giants, 53 off 20 balls against Mumbai Indians, and an unbeaten 48 off 19 balls against Chennai Super Kings. His captaincy and batting were key to RCB’s successful title defense.
