Rajat Patidar’s India Debut Openly Demanded By RCB Teammate – Rajat Patidar’s IPL 2026 Heroics Spark India Selection Demands From Phil Salt
Rajat Patidar Blasts RCB Into Second Consecutive IPL Final
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) captain Rajat Patidar put on an absolute masterclass in the IPL 2026 Qualifier 1, guiding the defending champions straight into the tournament’s final. Leading from the front at the picturesque HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala, the prolific middle-order batsman dismantled the Gujarat Titans’ bowling lineup with an unbeaten 93 runs off just 33 deliveries. His explosive innings was decorated with five cracking boundaries and nine towering sixes.
Patidar was deservedly named the ‘Player of the Match’ for his batting masterclass. The knock marked his fifth half-century of the IPL 2026 season, bringing him tantalizingly close to the 500-run milestone. His efforts catapulted RCB to a massive total of 254/5 in their 20 overs, laying the foundation for a comprehensive 92-run victory as the Titans failed to chase down the mammoth target.
Phil Salt Demands National Call-Up for His RCB Captain
Following Patidar’s spectacular display of power-hitting, his RCB teammate and England international Phil Salt made an amusing demand. In a light-hearted video recorded for the RCB franchise at the team hotel, a smiling Salt made his thoughts clear on Patidar’s international prospects. Looking directly at the camera, the English opener jokingly said, “Rajat Patidar Team India play button.”
While Salt’s demand was made in jest, it highlights the growing consensus that Patidar’s T20 game has reached elite levels, making him hard for national selectors to ignore.
A Record-Breaking IPL 2026 Campaign for Patidar
Rajat Patidar’s knock in the qualifier was not a flash in the pan but rather the continuation of a sensational run of form in IPL 2026. The RCB skipper has amassed 486 runs in 13 innings at a stellar average of 44.18. Even more impressive is his strike rate of 196.76, which is the third-highest in the tournament among players who have crossed the 400-run mark. Currently, he only trails Rajasthan Royals opener Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Sunrisers Hyderabad’s Abhishek Sharma in terms of scoring rate.
Patidar’s fast-paced captain’s knock also shattered multiple franchise and tournament records, ensuring RCB’s second consecutive appearance in an IPL final. Under Patidar’s leadership, RCB captured their maiden title in 2025 and are now on the verge of making history yet again.
The India Conundrum: When Will Patidar Return to the National Side?
Despite his phenomenal white-ball exploits, Patidar’s journey with the national team has been limited. Since his international debut in December 2023, he has featured in just one ODI and three Test matches. All three of his Test appearances came during the home series against England in February 2024. Surprisingly, the right-handed batsman is yet to make his T20I debut for Team India, a format in which his aggressive style of play seems to yield the best results.
With Patidar currently out of the national selectors’ immediate plans, this spectacular IPL season could force the BCCI men’s selection committee to re-evaluate his position. His ability to dominate both pace and spin in the middle overs makes him a highly valuable asset for India’s T20 transition.
RCB Chases Historic Back-to-Back Titles in Ahmedabad
With a spot in the IPL 2026 final secured, RCB now awaits the winner of Qualifier 2. They will face either the Gujarat Titans or the winner of the Eliminator clash between Rajasthan Royals and Sunrisers Hyderabad. The highly anticipated final is scheduled to be played at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday, May 31, with the match starting at 7:30 PM IST.
If RCB manages to win the upcoming title clash, they will write their names in the history books as only the third franchise in IPL history to successfully defend their crown, joining the elite company of Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Mumbai Indians (MI).
