Rajat Patidar’s sensational display in IPL 2026 has not just cemented the fact that he was already having an excellent domestic season, but it has also ensured that there is now an India T20I selection
debate over the player. The Royal Challengers Bengaluru captain may have taken his team through to yet another IPL final, but he has done it all despite immense pressure at both ends of the wicket. With his unbeaten knock of 93 off just 33 deliveries against Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 1, Patidar showed once again why he is such a good bet to play for India.
While Patidar’s latest innings was indeed exceptional in many ways, it must be remembered that his performances in IPL 2024 and 2025 also made sure that there is a genuine case for his inclusion in the India T20I side. With Patidar able to play against both pace bowling and spin and change gears within a few overs, his ability to perform under pressure stands out in international T20s.
Big-match player
The statistics of Patidar in the playoffs are remarkable in themselves. In six innings played in IPL playoffs, he has hit 338 runs with an average of 112.66 and a strike rate of 193.14. This statistic gives insight into his ability to perform under knockout pressure without faltering. His unbeaten knock of 93 against Gujarat Titans in the IPL 2026 Qualifier 1 is one of the best playoff knocks that have been witnessed in recent times. After scoring 14 runs in his initial 10 balls, he made a brutal switch and hammered 79 runs in just 23 balls. It included five fours and nine sixes and took RCB to a record IPL playoff total of 254/5.
However, this was not just one isolated performance of his. In 2022, in the Eliminator against Lucknow Super Giants, he became the first uncapped player to score a hundred in IPL playoffs by hitting 112 off 54 balls
Breathtaking Batting 🤯 🎥 Rajat Patidar leaving the best in the business awestruck 😳❤️ Updates ▶️ https://t.co/9rs6u5obOw#TATAIPL | #Qualifier1 | #TheFinalLeap | #RCBvGT | @RCBTweets pic.twitter.com/5BFUDFTHH1
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 26, 2026
Leadership and calmness under pressure
Patidar's captaincy also adds to his strong case for the T20I position. The decision to make him the captain of RCB ahead of IPL 2025 took many people by surprise. But, he soon proved why that choice was made by leading his side to their first-ever IPL victory in 18 years. In the next season, he continued his good form by taking RCB to yet another IPL final and became one of the few captains to take their teams to consecutive finals.
Most importantly, Patidar always remains calm under pressure. He demonstrated his capability to do so in the 2026 Qualifier 1 of the IPL where RCB were 140/4 after the 14th over and he changed the whole dynamics with a crucial unbeaten knock of 93 off just 33 balls. Similarly, earlier during the 2022 Eliminator against Lucknow Super Giants, he helped RCB register a historic win by scoring 112* off 54 deliveries. Even during the 2025 title-winning campaign of RCB, he provided some critical performances in Qualifier 1 as well as in the final against Punjab Kings. Overall, in six IPL playoff innings, he has scored 338 runs with an average of 112.66 and strike rate of 193.14.
Playoff pressure? 🤔 Rajat Patidar thrives in it 😎 Relive his 9⃣ sixes vs #GT ▶️ https://t.co/GhSseiiXq4 #TATAIPL | #Qualifier1 | #TheFinalLeap | #RCBvGT pic.twitter.com/DISQjB1bn6
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 26, 2026
His batting style suits modern T20 cricket
Patidar's stats during IPL 2026 in general further back up his case as well. In the tournament, he has aggregated 486 runs, with an SR of 196.76 as a middle-order batsman. The role of a middle-order batsman in T20 matches is probably the most difficult position due to the requirements of both rebuilding and acceleration. Prior to that, he was known only as a good batsman against spinners. This season, however, he has proved that he could attack fast bowlers regularly and adapt to different game scenarios.
There will definitely be competition from other players such as Suryakumar Yadav and Shreyas Iyer. Nevertheless, Patidar managed to attract attention during this season. It looks like the Indian selectors are considering him if they need to rotate their squad in minor tours. Therefore, Patidar deserves the chance to make his debut in the Indian T20I side
