The Indian team’s New Zealand tour will start in the coming few days. Team India will play T20, ODI and Test series on this tour. The T20 team for this tour has been announced and the ODI-Test squad will also be revealed soon. In this, the eyes are focused on the ODI squad because it is believed that 2 squads can be selected for this series. This is the reason why this time some players who are not part of the team may also get a chance. Now it should not be a surprise if Rajat Patidar is selected for this tour. Let us tell you the reason.
Actually, the Indian team will be in New Zealand from 22 October to the end of November. This tour will start with the T20 series, in which 5 matches will be played. Then the 5 ODI match series will start from 4th November. Immediately after this, the 2 test match series will start from 19th November. Now there is very less gap between ODI and Test series. In such a situation, the selection committee will select some players separately for the last 2 ODIs, so that the players of the Test team can prepare.
Patidar staked claim with strong batting
A recent report claimed that the selection committee is eyeing India A for the ‘second’ squad, which is playing an ODI series against Australia A. India A has lost both the matches so far in this series and the reason for this has been poor batting. But in both these matches, Rajat Patidar has proved his batting prowess. He played fighting innings of 51 and 67 runs in both the matches and was the top scorer of the team. Apart from him, no other batsman could show his strength.
Now, if India A matches will indeed be made the basis for selection, then Patidar has strengthened his claim. In the first two consecutive IPL seasons, he has led Royal Challengers Bangalore to win titles under his captaincy and during this period he has also batted brilliantly. There has been a demand to include him in the T20 team. This demand has not been fulfilled but this time he may get a chance in the ODI team.
Will Team India return after 3 years?
Patidar has earlier made his debut in ODI cricket for the Indian team. He played an ODI match on the South Africa tour in 2023, in which he scored 22 runs while opening. But after this he did not get another chance. He got a chance in 3 test matches against England in 2024 but he could not capitalize on those opportunities. However, this time a new opportunity seems to be coming for the star batsman of Madhya Pradesh and if this happens then he will be entitled to it.