'Where is Patidar?' — Hanuma Vihari questions India selectors after T20I squad announcement
Hanuma Vihari asked "Where is Patidar?" after India named its T20I squad for the Zimbabwe series, questioning the omission of Rajat Patidar despite his IPL 2026 form and leadership with RCB. He also criticised the exclusions of Kuldeep Yadav and Sanju Samson, saying the squad lacked right-handed batters. India beat Zimbabwe by seven wickets in the first T20I to take a 1-0 series lead.
Vihari, a former India batter, openly challenged the selectors' choices following the squad reveal for the short series in Zimbabwe. His remarks highlighted Rajat Patidar’s strong showing in IPL 2026 and his captaincy role at Royal Challengers Bangalore, suggesting those credentials warranted consideration. Vihari extended his critique to the spin department and the batting lineup by naming Kuldeep Yadav and Sanju Samson among the notable absentees. The comments came amid the opening match of the series, in which India secured a convincing victory.
On Patidar’s omission, Vihari made his position plain with the question, "Where is Patidar?" He underscored Patidar’s recent performances in the IPL 2026 season and his leadership responsibilities with RCB as reasons the batter merited selection. Vihari’s public questioning framed the conversation around reward for domestic and franchise form when national opportunities are allocated. The remark has drawn attention to the selection panel’s priorities for the Zimbabwe assignment.
Vihari also singled out Kuldeep Yadav and Sanju Samson as players whose absence was puzzling to him. He criticised the decision to leave them out and pointed to a perceived shortfall in the squad’s handedness composition by saying the squad lacked right-handed batters. Those observations turned the focus on balance and resource choices within the squad announced for the T20I fixtures. Vihari’s critique connected the omissions to broader selection strategy rather than isolated decisions.
The opening T20I result — India beating Zimbabwe by seven wickets — supplied immediate context to the debate over personnel. That win gave India a 1-0 lead in the series and offered the selectors an early positive outcome. Vihari’s comments, voiced in the wake of the victory, underline the continuing scrutiny that selection calls attract even when initial results are favourable.
Vihari’s questions have kept attention on the selectors’ approach to the Zimbabwe T20I squad and on the status of players such as Rajat Patidar, Kuldeep Yadav and Sanju Samson. With India holding a 1-0 advantage after the first game, the squad makeup will remain a talking point as the series continues.
