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Rajat Patidar’s India Debut Openly Demanded By RCB Teammate – Rajat Patidar IPL 2026: Phil Salt Demands India Call-Up For RCB Captain

Sagar Thapa · 27/05/2026 · 4 min read

Rajat Patidar Leads Defending Champions RCB to IPL 2026 Final

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 has witnessed some extraordinary cricket, but Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) captain Rajat Patidar has elevated the tournament’s excitement to another level. Leading the defending champions in the high-stakes Qualifier 1 clash against Gujarat Titans in Dharamsala, Patidar played a captain’s knock that will be remembered for years to come. Blasting an unbeaten 93 runs off just 33 deliveries, he guided his team straight into the grand final. Following this masterclass, his RCB teammate and England international Phil Salt jokingly but emphatically demanded Patidar’s immediate inclusion in the Indian national squad.

The Stunning Dharamsala Knock

Qualifier 1 at the picturesque HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala was expected to be a tense affair, but Rajat Patidar turned it into a personal batting exhibition. Coming in to bat in the middle order, the RCB skipper took the Gujarat Titans’ bowling lineup to the cleaners. His breathtaking 93* off 33 balls featured five crisp boundaries and nine towering sixes, completely demoralizing the opposition.

This explosive innings propelled RCB to a monumental total of 254-5 in their allotted 20 overs. Backed by a dominant bowling performance, RCB wrapped up a comfortable 92-run victory, securing their ticket to the IPL 2026 final. Patidar was rightfully adjudged the ‘Player of the Match’ for his sensational performance, which also marked his fifth half-century of the ongoing season.

Phil Salt’s Humorous Plea for India Selection

Patidar’s exploits have not only amazed fans and pundits but have also earned him immense admiration within his own dressing room. Following the match, England international and RCB teammate Phil Salt made a light-hearted yet highly supportive statement regarding Patidar’s international prospects.

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While filming a video for the RCB franchise at the team hotel, Salt was captured smilingly saying, “Rajat Patidar Team India play button.” This humorous gesture quickly caught the attention of cricket enthusiasts online, highlighting the strong camaraderie within the RCB camp and the growing belief that Patidar deserves a regular spot in the national setup.

A Record-Breaking IPL 2026 Campaign

The 93* in Dharamsala was not a one-off performance; it was the culmination of a highly consistent and destructive IPL 2026 campaign for Rajat Patidar. In 13 innings this season, the right-handed batter has amassed 486 runs at an impressive average of 44.18.

What makes his campaign even more remarkable is his extraordinary strike rate of 196.76. Among all batters with more than 400 runs this season, Patidar’s strike rate ranks as the third-highest. He only trails Rajasthan Royals’ young sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Sunrisers Hyderabad’s explosive opener Abhishek Sharma in this regard. This incredible scoring rate has established him as one of the most feared middle-order batsmen in the tournament.

Will the BCCI Selectors Recall Patidar?

Despite his undisputed prowess in the shortest format, Rajat Patidar is yet to make his T20I debut for Team India. His international career so far consists of just a handful of matches since his debut in December 2023. He has played a solitary ODI and three Test matches, all of which came during the home series against England in February 2024.

Currently out of the national selectors’ immediate plans, Patidar’s phenomenal IPL season has certainly put his name back in the spotlight. Given India’s constant search for dynamic and aggressive middle-order batters in T20 cricket, the BCCI selection committee might find it incredibly difficult to ignore Patidar’s credentials for much longer.

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RCB on the Verge of History

Under Patidar’s astute leadership, RCB has reached its second successive IPL final. The franchise won its maiden title in the 2025 edition and is now on the cusp of creating history. The grand finale is scheduled to take place at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday, May 31, with the action beginning at 7:30 PM IST.

RCB will face either the Gujarat Titans or the winner of the Eliminator between Rajasthan Royals and Sunrisers Hyderabad. Should RCB emerge victorious, they will become only the third team in IPL history to successfully defend their title, joining the elite company of:

Chennai Super Kings (CSK)
Mumbai Indians (MI)

Sagar Thapa

Sagar Thapa is a senior sports correspondent for The Kathmandu Post, regarded as one of the foremost chroniclers of Nepal’s remarkable cricketing ascent. A graduate of Tribhuvan University, he started his career covering age‑group and university cricket long before Nepal’s national team gained ODI status. Sagar has since reported on every major milestone in Nepal’s journey—from World Cup Qualifiers to the rise of stars like Sandeep Lamichhane in global T20 leagues. His deep understanding of spin bowling and the specific challenges faced by Associate Member nations underpins his widely read columns. Sagar’s work is known for its gentle authority, meticulously contextualising Nepal’s achievements within the broader international game. He has been honoured by the Nepal Sports Journalists Forum and his own newspaper, and he remains passionately committed to telling the stories of the valleys, academies, and tournaments that are shaping the next generation of cricket in Nepal and beyond.