Legendary Indian opener Virender Sehwag has made a bold prediction for Rajat Patidar after his heroic performances for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the ongoing IPL 2026. Rajat Patidar has been in sensational form and leading the defending champions from the front.
The RCB captain has so far scored 486 runs across 13 innings at an impressive average of over 44 and blistering strike rate of nearly 197 in the ongoing IPL 2026. Patidar played a record-breaking knock of an unbeaten 93 off just 33 balls at a jaw-dropping strike rate of 281.81 to guide RCB to the highest-ever total in IPL playoff history (254/5) in the Qualifier 1 against Gujarat Titans.
Virender Sehwag makes bold India prediction for Rajat Patidar
Captain’s blazing knock stormed RCB into the IPL 2026 final as Gujarat Titans slipped to 162 while chasing the mammoth target in Dharamshala on May 26.
After watching Patidar’s explosive batting, Virender Sehwag feels the RCB skipper is now very close to getting a chance in India’s T20I team.
The former India opener was highly impressed with the way the right-handed batter handled pressure and changed the match completely with aggressive batting, attacking the Gujarat Titans bowlers from all sides of the ground in Dharamshala.
The Indian team is not far away at all: Sehwag
Sehwag praised Patidar for the calmness he showed after early wickets fell. He felt the RCB captain understood the situation perfectly and then attacked at the right time. The commentator also said Patidar is ready for T20I cricket given his shot selection and confidence under pressure.
Virender Sehwag said on Cricbuzz: “When he had come into bat, two wickets had fallen in the same over. From there, he handled the situation, structured his innings, and then completely wreaked havoc in the end. He hit sixes in every direction; those were calculated hits. He knows what his strengths are; he waits for the ball. I am saying that the Indian team is not far away at all.”
‘Selectors now have a big headache’: Mohit Sharma on Rajat Patidar
On the other hand, the former Indian pacer Mohit Sharma, who was part of the Gujarat Titans in IPL, also believes that Patidar is making a strong case for India selection.
The Men in Blue are scheduled to play a T20I series against Ireland, England, and Zimbabwe in the coming months, and Mohit said Patidar is giving great headaches to the national selectors.
Read Also: Sourav Ganguly raises concerns over Rishabh Pant’s T20 adaptation and leadership
Mohit Sharma said during the same discussion, “He is batting brilliantly. Now the question for him is how do you run things in the future? How can you play for India? How will the space be created?”
Virender Sehwag warns RCB despite dominant IPL 2026 final entry
Meanwhile, RCB have booked their place in the IPL 2026 final and will now face the winner of Qualifier 2. Gujarat Titans will take on either Sunrisers Hyderabad or Rajasthan Royals—the winner of the Eliminator on May 27—for the remaining final spot.
And Sehwag warned the Royal Challengers Bengaluru against becoming overconfident. He believes that RCB now have a major advantage to use that extra time to prepare for the conditions at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad before the title clash on May 31.
Sehwag said, “They can't afford to relax just because they are in the final. They will have to prepare for it. It is their benefit that they will be able to practice there for 2 days. The other team that will qualify for the final will not even get a chance to practice there, because they will have to travel on their break day. Also, RCB have played at that ground so many times, and have won the title there also.”
