Hanuma Vihari questions India team management for excluding Rajat Patidar from Zimbabwe T20I squad

Hanuma Vihari, the former India batter, has strongly questioned the selection committee’s decision to exclude Rajat Patidar from India’s T20I squad for the Zimbabwe series, saying the team management overlooked the RCB captain’s credentials despite his outstanding form.

The three-match T20I series against Zimbabwe begins on Thursday, July 23, in Harare, with India looking to recover after losing 2-0 to Ireland and then suffering a 4-0 whitewash at the hands of England. The Men in Blue are on a winless streak of seven matches in the T20 format. The tour offers Shreyas Iyer’s men a chance to redeem themselves after tumultuous times in the United Kingdom.

“Rinku Singh was brought back, but where is Rajat Patidar? He led RCB to titles in two seasons and also performed well as a batter. He was not considered as well. These are hard calls from the selectors. Patidar should have been given a chance, especially because if you look at the team, all are left-handers. With so many left-handers, Patidar or Samson as right-handers should have been there. Yes, Prabhsimran is there, but I don’t think he will play because Ishan Kishan will be the first choice wicketkeeper,” Vihari said on his YouTube channel.

Why should India have picked Rajat Patidar over balance concerns?

Vihari raised further questions about other selection choices and the squad’s overall balance. Patidar amassed 486 runs at a strike rate of 196.76 in IPL 2026, yet was overlooked despite his standout performances this season. Vihari also expressed disappointment with the decisions not to pick Kuldeep Yadav and Sanju Samson.

“It’s a serious case of why Kuldeep Yadav has not been included. He is a wrist-spinner with experience. Why did you not play him? Also, if you did not want Sanju Samson for the Zimbabwe series, you sent Prabhsimran. Fine. But you did not even consider giving an opportunity to Rajat Patidar. Why should age be a factor?” Vihari asked.

“If you have taken many players who performed in the IPL, then why not Patidar? You have filled the team with left-handers. There is no right-hander apart from Shreyas,” he added.

The three-match series begins on Thursday, July 23, at the Harare Sports Club and concludes at the same venue on Sunday, July 26. The Men in Blue will be aiming to end their poor run and register their first bilateral series victory in the shortest format since their T20 World Cup triumph in March 2026.