Rajat Patidar has received his first callup to the national team due to his outstanding performance in the Indian Premier League and on the home circuit. The 29-year-old has admitted how anxious he was before speaking to Shikhar Dhawan, India’s captain for the South Africa series, despite the fact that he is poised to make his ODI debut. However, the right-handed batter stated that the captain had visited, spoken with him, and recognised his thus far achievements.
“This is the first time I’m meeting Shikhar Dhawan and will be playing under his leadership. I hesitated to speak to him but he only came to me and appreciated my performance,” said Rajat Patidar before the first game at Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow. The cricketer also recounted his first encounters with AB De Villiers and former India captain Virat Kohli in the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) camp. He also said how the pair gave him inspiration and increased his self-confidence.
“Virat Kohli and ABD are the stalwarts of international cricket. I had no idea what to talk about with these guys. But they only came first and had a word with me… a great moment for me. That spiked my confidence levels. I got to learn a lot from them,” Patidar said.
In IPL 2022, Patidar, who was playing for RCB, scored a century against the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), making it one of the most renowned innings in IPL history. The 29-year-old became the uncapped player with the fastest century, scoring it in just 49 balls. He also did a fantastic job throughout the recent Ranji Trophy. The Madhya Pradesh team that won the Ranji Trophy included Patidar. He chipped in with key instrumental performances that helped his side capture the silverware. “The IPL knock has given me a lot of confidence.
But I think, there is a big difference between white-ball and red-ball cricket. But I think, I have the ability to play all three formats. So, I just try to focus on the process of red and white-ball formats differently. I don’t have any personal goals. I just want to stay in the present and play according to the situation. I do only what I can control,” said Patidar before India’s clash against South Africa.
