Rajat Patidar

 

In the 2018–19 Ranji Trophy, he emerged as Madhya Pradesh's leading run-scorer, amassing 713 runs. However, his defining moment came during the 2022 Indian T20 League season, where he scored a match-winning century in the playoffs for Bengaluru, becoming the first uncapped player to achieve this feat. His stellar performance earned him recognition, finishing the season with 333 runs in 8 matches.

 

Retained by Bengaluru for the 2023 season, Patidar continued to impress, leading to his inclusion in India's ODI squad for series against South Africa and New Zealand. Despite an Achilles heel injury in 2023, he bounced back strongly, emerging as the top run-scorer for Madhya Pradesh in the 2023/24 Vijay Hazare Trophy.

 

Patidar's consistent displays earned him a spot in India's ODI squad for the tour of South Africa, making his debut in the 3rd ODI. Subsequently, he featured for India A against England Lions in a red-ball series, where his back-to-back centuries paved the way for his Test call-up for the series against England, replacing Virat Kohli. However, his maiden Test series didn't go as expected, ending with just 63 runs from 6 innings, with 32 being his highest score. Despite this, Patidar remains a promising talent with the potential to shine on the international stage and he will be eager to make a mark for Bengaluru at the 2024 Indian T20 League.