Former India Cricketer Hanuma Vihari Questions Rajat Patidar's Omission from Zimbabwe T20I Squad

Former India cricketer Hanuma Vihari has publicly questioned the national selection committee's choices for the ongoing T20 International series against Zimbabwe. Vihari specifically expressed surprise at the exclusion of middle-order batter Rajat Patidar from the squad, highlighting his recent strong performances.

Vihari pointed to Patidar's impactful contributions in the recent Indian Premier League (IPL) season, where he showcased significant batting prowess. Beyond his runs, the former India Test player also noted Patidar's leadership qualities displayed while playing for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), suggesting these attributes made him a strong candidate for national selection.

The Andhra Pradesh captain further extended his criticism to include the omissions of spinner Kuldeep Yadav and wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson. Vihari articulated a concern regarding the overall balance of the squad, suggesting a perceived lack of experienced right-handed batters within the current setup selected for the Zimbabwe tour.

These comments come as the Indian team has already commenced its five-match T20I series against Zimbabwe. In the opening encounter, India secured a comfortable seven-wicket victory, taking a 1-0 lead in the series. Despite the early success, Vihari's remarks have sparked a debate surrounding the squad composition and selection philosophy for upcoming international assignments.