"Patidar should replace..": EX-IPL winner backs Rajat Patidar to replace star India batter in middle order after IPL 2026

The TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026, match no.20 between the Mumbai Indians (MI) and the reigning champions, saw some brutal hitting in the match as RCB won the game by 18 runs after they posted a target of 241 runs. Among the hitters, RCB skipper Rajat Patidar was also there; he smacked 53 off 20 balls.

After Rajat Patidar's blistering knock, which consisted of four boundaries and five sixes, he created absolute mayhem during the game and smacked the spinners all over the park, especially Mayank Markande. Rajat Patidar has been one of the finest players of spin in recent times, and he has been smacking the spinners as if he was playing a video game.

Rajat Patidar to debut for India?

After witnessing Rajat Patidar’s insane hitting, former Pakistan wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal has demanded that the former should be called in the India National Cricket Team in the next series, but the real question for the Men in Blue side have multiple players lining up for the T20 side. Patidar might not get a chance soon.

“He hit three sixes in his first five balls. The reverse sweep six was the best one,” Akmal said on the “Game Plan” podcast, explaining that the RCB captain immediately pressured the bowlers and forced MI to change their strategies.

He[Rajat Patidar] has set a different level- Kamran Akmal

The former wicketkeeper-batter was also happy with Patidar's rise. Kamran Akmal believes that Patidar’s recent performances will bring him into consideration for the India National Cricket Team and can replace Tilak Varma in the middle order, as the MI batter has been struggling with form in the IPL 2026.

“The way Rajat came and played, he has set a different level,” Akmal said, adding that there’s an ongoing debate in India about his role in the T20 team. “There is a debate about whether Patidar should replace Tilak Varma, and Shreyas Iyer should come in place of Suryakumar Yadav,” he said, noting the growing competition for spots in the Indian middle order.

Become a different team- Akmal on RCB after winning IPL

Akmal, while explaining the brutal batting of RCB, took the example that while Sunrisers Hyderabad scored 219 after a similar start against Punjab Kings, RCB excelled by maximising their advantage. “They were 115 in 10 overs. It was the same start that SRH had in their game, and they made 219. RCB, on the other hand, made 240. That was the difference between winning and losing,” he said.

Kamran Akmal also credited Phil Salt for his aggressive batting while opening the innings. Salt started the mayhem at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday as he scored 78 in 35 balls.

Akmal finally concluded, “The way RCB batted and the way Phil Salt batted… usne chhel diya fast bowlers ko.” “They have become a different team since they became champions.”

The former Pakistan cricketer also pointed out MI’s problems in the batting and “On the other hand, what has happened to MI? Such a big team. They have had three straight losses.”

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