Team India’s batting coach, Vikram Rathour, has expressed his confidence in Rajat Patidar‘s abilities, backing the cricketer to overcome a rough start to his Test career. Rathour emphasized that Patidar has been in good batting form and that a couple of subpar performances do not diminish his talent.
Rajat Patidar, aged 30, debuted in the second Test against England in Visakhapatnam, where he scored a composed 32 before getting bowled in a somewhat unfortunate manner. However, in his recent three innings, he has been unable to reach double figures, including a duck in the second innings in Rajkot.
On his day, he will come up with an impactful innings- Vikram Rathour on Patidar
Ahead of the fourth Test between India and England, scheduled to commence at the JSCA International Stadium Complex in Ranchi on Friday, February 23, Vikram Rathour spoke out in support of Patidar, stating,
We have been having a lot of conversations with him [Patidar]. One thing he has to understand is that this is how this game works. He has been batting really well and scoring a lot of runs to get into the team.
“Two poor games don’t make him a bad player. He just had two tough games, couple of awkward dismissals, which can happen to anyone. There is absolutely no doubt that he is a good player. On his day, he will come up with an impactful innings,” the former India opener added.
With KL Rahul sidelined for the fourth Test and Virat Kohli unavailable for the remaining matches, Patidar is poised to receive another chance to showcase his abilities in the upcoming encounter against England.
It’s a golden opportunity for Rajat Patidar to score runs- Aakash Chopra
Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra believes that Rajat Patidar has a golden opportunity to make an impact with the bat in Ranchi, especially with senior batter Rahul also ruled out of the fourth Test. Sharing his thoughts on his YouTube channel, Chopra remarked:
They were saying that KL Rahul would be available for the next match and then the match after that, the third and the fourth Test, but now he could probably be available for the fifth, we don’t know as of now.
“Since he is not available, it means there will be no change in the Indian XI as far as the batting lineup is concerned. So it’s a golden opportunity for Rajat Patidar to score runs, or else it could be a problem,” Chopra added.
Patidar brings considerable experience to the table, having played 57 first-class matches, amassing 4,046 runs at an impressive average of 44.46. His record includes 12 centuries and 22 half-centuries, showcasing his ability to consistently contribute with the bat.
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