Aakash Chopra believes that the former Indian batsman Rajat PatidarIndia’s T20I return will have to wait, arguing that the current batting line-up leaves little room for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru captain despite his impressive performances.Patidar was not included in the 16-member Indian squad for the ongoing five-match T20I series against England. His absence has sparked debate, particularly with India fielding a predominantly left-handed order.During a video on his YouTube channel, ‘Aakash Chopra’, the former opener was asked if Patidar deserved a place in India’s T20I squad. Chopra responded by saying that the biggest question was identifying which ship should lead the way.“It is a very good question, but to find an answer to this question, we have to dig a little deeper and see who can come out. You have kept the left-handers in the top three at the moment. You will not see Rajat Patidar in any of those places because you have Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. Abhishek Sharmaand Ishan Kishan,” Chopra replied.“There is no aim to change any of those three. Ishan Kishan is at No. 3. If you have the power to remove Ishan Kishan, remove him. He has become the No. 1 T20I batsman right now. It seems we have not done well with Sanju,” he added.Chopra’s remarks come after Sanju Samson, who was part of India’s victorious T20 World Cup 2026 campaign and finished as the Player of the Tournament, was left out of the playing XI for the second T20I against England. Samson featured in the opening match but made way for Vaibhav Sooryavanshi at the top of the order after a string of low scores.The former Indian cricketer then assessed the middle order, pointing out that Shreyas Iyer and the vice-captain Tilak Varma He was unlikely to lose his seats. That, he suggested, leaves only Shivam Dube’s position as a possible opening for Patidars.“Shreyas Iyer comes at No. 4, and your vice-captain, Tilak Varma, comes at No. 5. Shivam Dube comes at No. 6. If you don’t move the captain and vice-captain, which you shouldn’t, do you want to play Rajat Patidar in place of Shivam Dube? he said in the same video.Although Chopra admitted that Patidar deserves another opportunity at the international level, he feels the timing is not right as the current combination is difficult to break.“I am of the opinion that his time will come. Rajat Patidar will certainly play for India again. He has played Test cricket before. It is only a matter of time, but has that time come? It will only be if you have to make someone sit out. Who are you going to make sit out? This question has to be answered first. I don’t think his name will come immediately,” observed Chopra.Patidar has represented India in three Test matches and one ODI so far. In domestic cricket and franchise T20, he has built an impressive record, scoring 3,389 runs in 106 innings at a strike rate of 160.08, strengthening his case for another opportunity in India’s shortest format.
