Shreyas Iyer vs Rajat Patidar: Stats, Captaincy and India T20I Selection Verdict
Published - 19 Apr 2026, 01:49 PM | Updated - 19 Apr 2026, 01:50 PM
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Concerns are growing over Suryakumar Yadav’s future as the captain of India’s T20I team. Under the leadership of Yadav, Team India claimed their third T20 World Cup title on March 8, 2026. Despite guiding the team to glory, his performance as a batter has raised concerns.
If the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) decides to look beyond Yadav, then there will be multiple contenders to become the next captain for Team India in the shortest format of the game. Punjab Kings (PBKS) captain Shreyas Iyer and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) are likely to be in contention to replace Suryakumar Yadav.
Shreyas Iyer vs Rajat Patidar: IPL 2026 Stats Comparison
Shreyas Iyer, the captain of PBKS, is in stunning form for the team in the ongoing Indian Premier League season. The middle-order batter has scored 203 runs in 5 matches and 4 innings, averaging 67.66 and a strike rate of 187.96. In those four innings, Iyer registered half-centuries against the Chennai Super Kings, Sunrisers Hyderabad, and Mumbai Indians, respectively. Under his leadership, PBKS is on top of the points chart with 9 points in 5 matches. As of now, the runners-up of IPL 2026 are the only undefeated side in IPL 2026.
With a couple of half-centuries, RCB captain Rajat Patidar is also in good form in IPL 2026. The middle-order batter so far has scored 230 runs in 6 matches and 6 innings, averaging 46.00, with an amazing strike rate of 212.96. Under the IPL 2025 winning captain, RCB is in second spot on the ladder with 8 points in 6 matches.
Iyer vs Patidar: Captaincy Factor and Leadership Impact
Shreyas Iyer is one of the most celebrated leaders in the league. Along with IPL 2024 triumph with the Kolkata Knight Riders, he took Delhi Capitals and PBKS to the finals.
Iyer’s captaincy stats in IPL so far:
| Name of the Team | Matches | Won | Lost | No Result | Toss |
| Punjab Kings | 22 | 14 (63.64%) | 6 (27.27%) | 2 (9.09%) | 16 (72.73%) |
| Kolkata Knight Riders | 29 | 17 (58.62%) | 11 (37.93%) | 1 (3.45%) | 12 (41.38%) |
| Delhi Capitals | 41 | 23 (56.10%) | 18 (43.90%) | 0 (0.00%) | 24 (58.54%) |
Patidar’s high time emerged when he guided RCB for their IPL glory in 2025, breaking 18 years jinx. Apart from captaining Madhya Pradesh in domestic cricket, his first captaincy stint in IPL is with the Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
Patidar’s captaincy stats in IPL so far:
| Name of the Team | Matches | Won | Lost | No Result | Toss |
| Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 19 | 14 (73.68%) | 5 (26.32%) | 0 (0.00%) | 7 (36.84%) |
Final Verdict: Who Should Be Selected for the India T20I Team?
According to the win ratio, Rajat Patidar is ahead of Shreyas Iyer. But Iyer has more experience in leading teams in the league, and he has one IPL title as well under his belt, like Patidar. While Shreyas Iyer claimed the title with Kolkata, Rajat Patidar’s success came with Bengaluru. If the national team selectors evaluate the success ratio along with the experience, then Iyer will be ahead of Patidar.
Read More: MS Dhoni update: CSK coach confirms fitness status and batting position in IPL 2026
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Shreyas Iyer Rajat Patidar Indian National Cricket Team Royal Challengers Bengaluru Punjab Kings Suryakumar Yadav IPLAbout the Author
