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BCCI Hands Patidar Captaincy Keys; Could This Be India Testing Its Next ODI Leader?

Rajgeeta Yadav

Rajat Patidar named as India A captain for Australia A ODI series [Source: AFP]Rajat Patidar named as India A captain for Australia A ODI series [Source: AFP]

On Sunday (September 14), BCCI announced India A’s squad for the upcoming one-day matches against Australia A. Just last week, the squad for the red-ball series against the same team was revealed. That series begins on September 16, followed by three one-day series at Kanpur’s Green Park Stadium.

To manage the busy schedule, especially since the Asia Cup final (which India could play) is just two days before the series, the BCCI named two different squads: one for the first game, and another for the next two.

Rajat Patidar Emerges As India-A Captain In Surprising Move

Now, here comes the big surprise. Rajat Patidar, who has been in brilliant form this year, was made captain for the first ODI. After that, he will act as vice-captain to Tilak Varma in the remaining two games.

This announcement came right after Patidar led Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) to their first-ever IPL title in 18 years. And as if that wasn’t enough, just the next day he also lifted the Duleep Trophy with Central Zone, scoring a match-winning century.So, the big question is: 

Is India testing Rajat Patidar as a future ODI captain? 

Given his form and recent leadership success, it certainly looks like the selectors want to see how he performs in a bigger role.

If we look at his captaincy record, Patidar hasn’t led at the international level yet, but his domestic record speaks volumes. He has captained Madhya Pradesh in both the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) and the Vijay Hazare Trophy. Under his leadership, the team reached the SMAT final and finished third in the VHT, where he showed his sharp captaincy skills.

One standout moment was the SMAT 2024 final. Even though Madhya Pradesh lost, Patidar smashed 81 runs off just 40 balls, with six sixes and six fours. That fearless innings was one of the reasons RCB handed him the captaincy later.

As a batter, he has also delivered whenever it mattered. In the Duleep Trophy, he scored 369 runs in just four innings. In the SMAT 2024, he piled up 428 runs at a stunning strike rate of 186.09.

At the same time, India’s captaincy scene is in transition. While Rohit Sharma still leads the ODI team, names like Shreyas Iyer have been floated as possible successors. In Tests, Shubman Gill is getting chances as captain, and in T20Is, Suryakumar Yadav has already tasted success. So, clearly, the selectors are experimenting with different leaders.

Key Reasons Rajat Patidar May Not Be India’s Long-Term Choice

If you look closely at the squad, there weren’t many big names available to lead India A. Most of the usual candidates are already busy with the Asia Cup. In the past, Rajat Patidar wasn’t really seen as part of India’s captaincy plans. So, it’s possible that he got this chance mainly because there weren’t other standout options in the squad.

Meanwhile, the last time Patidar played for India was in 2024 Test series against England, where he managed only 63 runs across six innings. In ODIs, he has featured just once, scoring 22 runs. These numbers suggest why the selectors may not have looked at him seriously for a permanent spot until now.

That said, one factor might go against Patidar, his age. At 32, he isn’t exactly a long-term option. So, the first ODI will be a key test. If he impresses, he could enter the mix for future captaincy. If not, India might look at younger players instead.

At the end, Patidar’s captaincy might be more about circumstance than long-term planning. Still, if he performs well, this unexpected opportunity might open the door for bigger roles in the future.