Just a few days ago, cricket fans were delighted to see Rajat Patidar’s name back in India’s setup. RCB fans were particularly happy because, considering his performances, they felt he deserved the opportunity.
Patidar had been named vice-captain of India A for the Rising Stars Asia Cup. Tilak Varma was appointed captain, with Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Abhishek Sharma also included in the squad.
But that happiness has now turned into disappointment. Patidar has withdrawn from the squad, citing the need to manage his injury. He has also reportedly asked not to be considered for 50-over squads going forward. Ayush Badoni has been named as his replacement.
Rajat Patidar Withdraws Despite Strong Form
The decision comes at a time when Patidar has been playing well. He impressed for India A against Australia A, carried his form into domestic cricket and has also delivered in the IPL.
That is why this opportunity mattered. He was returning to the India A setup with runs behind him and had been given the additional responsibility of vice-captaincy. Instead of building on that selection at the Asia Cup, he has now stepped away.
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Could This Decision Hurt His Future India Selection?
The bigger concern is the message this withdrawal could send to the selectors.
Patidar has been playing Ranji Trophy cricket and also featured in the 50-over matches against Australia A. Against that background, withdrawing from an India A assignment after being selected could raise questions about his availability and priorities.
From a selection perspective, the concern is straightforward: a player is given an opportunity, along with a leadership role, but subsequently makes himself unavailable. If the selectors view that as a missed opportunity rather than a necessary injury-management decision, it could make his route back into the Indian team more difficult.
The comparison with Ishan Kishan is a warning about how questions around availability can become part of a wider selection debate. It does not establish that the selectors will respond to Patidar in the same way, but it explains why this decision could carry consequences beyond one tournament.
There is also a possibility that the impact may not remain limited to 50-over cricket. If the selectors take a negative view of his withdrawal, it could affect his chances of being considered for T20 cricket as well. They may question whether to offer another opportunity to a player who stepped away from the one already given to him.
That remains a possible selection consequence, not a confirmed decision by the selectors. For Patidar, however, the concern is that strong performances alone may not settle the questions this withdrawal could create.
India A’s full squad for Rising Stars Asia Cup 2026
Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Prabhsimran Singh (wicketkeeper), Tilak Varma (captain), Ayush Badoni, Rinku Singh, Kumar Kushagra (wicketkeeper), Suryansh Shedge, Shahbaz Ahmed, Vipraj Nigam, Harsh Dubey, Tanush Kotian, Harshit Rana, Prince Yadav and Arshad Khan.
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