Where is Rajat Patidar? Former player highlights Ajit Agarkar’s mistake for Zimbabwe T20I series

By Samira Vishwas On Jul 24, 2026

Indian cricket team began their three-match tour of Zimbabwe with a comprehensive seven-wicket win on Thursday. It was a much-needed win after the string of losses suffered during the tours of Ireland and England. Forgotten India player Hanuma Vihari, though, questioned the selectors over Rajat Patidar’s absence from the setup.

The 33-year-old had scored 501 runs with the bat during the IPL 2026 season. He had also led Royal Challengers Bengaluru to their second successive title win after they beat Gujarat Titans in the final. Despite all this, Patidar wasn’t picked for the national side in the shortest format of the game.

Vihari, speaking on his YouTube channel, said, “Rinku Singh was brought back, but where is Patidar? He led RCB to two successive title wins and also did well as a batter. These are hard calls from the selection committee. Rajat should have been given a chance, considering the team has plenty of left-handed batters.”

The 32-year-old added, “Either him (Rajat) or Sanju Samson should have been there. Prabhsimran Singh is also there in the side, but I don’t think he will get to play because Ishan Kishan is the number one choice as wicketkeeper and batter.” Sanju Samson was ‘rested’ for the tour after the batter endured a poor series in the UK.

Veteran batter questions Kuldeep Yadav snub

Left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav is at a crossroads after facing constant snubbing by the team management. The 31-year-old wasn’t picked for the current series in Zimbabwe, and the spinner has signed up for a short stint with Yorkshire, where he will play red-ball matches and ODI cricket for the side.

On his YouTube channel, the veteran India batter questioned the rationale behind ignoring the LSG bowler from the side. “It is a serious case as to why Yadav is not part of the side. He is a wrist spin bowler with plenty of experience.” The bowler’s last T20I match was against Pakistan during the World Cup in Sri Lanka.

“The selectors didn’t want to send Samson to Zimbabwe; that’s fine, but why did they ignore Rajat? Age shouldn’t be a factor. Since they had taken so many performers from the IPL, even Patidar should have been there. There is no right-handed batter in the side apart from Shreyas Iyer.”