The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) not too long ago introduced a extremely revamped Indian males’s T20I squad for the upcoming excursions of Eire and England, alongside the Asian Video games roster. Whereas the choice introduced huge headlines, together with Shreyas Iyer taking up the captaincy reins from Suryakumar Yadav and a historic maiden call-up for 15-year-old batting prodigy Vaibhav Suryavanshi, it’s a evident omission that has sparked intense debate. Former India spinner Harbhajan Singh has brazenly voiced his frustration, strongly backing Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) star Rajat Patidar after the middle-order maestro was neglected of India’s T20I plans but once more.
Harbhajan Singh slams selectors for ignoring Rajat Patidar in India’s T20I plans
Taking to social media shortly after the official squad announcement, Harbhajan didn’t mince phrases relating to the omission of the RCB captain. The legendary off-spinner questioned what extra the right-handed batter wanted to do on the home and franchise stage to earn the selectors’ belief.
“Unhappy no Rajat Patidar within the Indian squad. What else he must do? Scored 501 runs, strike charge nearly 200. Unfair 💔 @rrjjt_01 Simply one of the best center order in India. Correct striker with good approach,” Harbhajan posted on X (previously Twitter).
Harbhajan’s public critique shines a highlight on a variety puzzle that has left followers and pundits bewildered. Regardless of Tilak Varma being elevated to the vice-captaincy and a transparent shift towards a youthful T20I core, Patidar’s absence stands out as an enormous anomaly, particularly given his unparalleled affect in high-pressure conditions over the previous two years.
Unhappy no Rajat Patidar within the indian squad. What else he must do ? Scored 501 runs strike charge nearly 200 . Unfair 💔 @rrjjt_01 Simply one of the best center order in India . Correct striker with good approach
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) June 6, 2026
Additionally READ: Why BCCI didn’t pick Rajat Patidar in India’s T20I squad despite winning back-to-back IPL titles? Ajit Agarkar explains
The stats and management milestones fueling the backlash
The core of Harbhajan’s frustration stems from Patidar’s meteoric rise as each a damaging batter and an elite chief. He famously guided Royal Challengers Bengaluru to their historic, maiden IPL title in 2025, breaking an agonizing 18-year trophy drought for the franchise. Removed from a one-season marvel, Patidar doubled down on his success by captaining RCB to back-to-back silverware within the 2026 season, cementing his fame as a modern-day icon.
From a purely analytical perspective, Patidar’s numbers make his exclusion extremely tough to justify in a format that closely rewards intent and boundary-hitting:
| Metric | Rajat Patidar (IPL 2026 Statistics) |
| Complete Runs | 501 runs in 15 matches |
| Strike Fee | Constantly clocking close to 200 |
| Batting Common | 41.75 |
| Sixes Cleared | 42 maximums |
Patidar has uniquely mastered the artwork of organic acceleration within the center overs, dismantling spin and tempo with equal ferocity with out sacrificing textbook cricket approach. By deciding on an extremely younger roster however skipping over India’s most in-form, championship-winning middle-order anchor, the selectors have arrange a high-stakes narrative for the upcoming excursions. Whether or not this youthful experiment pays off stays to be seen, however for now, Patidar’s omission stays an unresolved controversy in Indian cricket.
Additionally READ: Rajat Patidar’s captaincy earns Sachin Tendulkar’s praise following RCB’s consecutive IPL title wins
