Rajat Patidar, a talented right-handed batter, has seen the highs and lows of the game in a relatively short period of time. Patidar was released by Royal Challengers Bangalore following a poor Indian Premier League performance in 2021.
However, he was signed midway through the IPL 2022 season as a replacement for the injured Luvnith Sisodia. In the Eliminator against Lucknow Super Giants, the Madhya Pradesh cricketer made his second chance count, scoring a stunning unbeaten 112 off 54 balls.
As a result, Patidar had earned a maiden India call-up to the Indian ODI team for a home series against South Africa in October 2022. However, he did not get a game. Then tragedy struck as Patidar suffered an Achilles injury and missed the IPL 2023 entirely.
After recovering from the injury and grinding it out in the domestic circuit, the 30-year-old has once again received a call-up to the Indian team for the upcoming ODI series in South Africa.
“Ab thoda bahut believe karta hun destiny main (Now, I believe in destiny a bit), I try not to think too much into what’s written in destiny. I try to stay in the present. It feels very good to get another chance with the India set up after the surgery,” Patidar was quoted by Hindustan Times.
Patidar mentioned that he had the feeling he would score a hundred in IPL 2022 if he could pick the right bowlers to attack.
"Before the hundred (112* off 54 balls vs LSG), I had scored 52 against GT. That’s when I felt maybe I could score a hundred in IPL. I had said that to our coach Sanjay Bangar. I was getting out in the 12th over. I knew if I chose the bowlers more smartly, I would be able to do it,” he said.
Patidar said that he is still playing with pain but mentioned that his doctor has said that it will ease out with time.
“It’s the main tendon in the body and takes a year-and-a-half to heal completely. It’s been 6-7 months so far. The doctor has told me that I can play and the heel with slowly get used to the ground conditions. There is some pain. But I had played for three years with pain (before surgery). So, I know I can manage. It plays on your mind initially when you enter the crease before your body has warmed up; once it does, you don’t feel that much.” said Patidar.
Patidar explained how he changes his game depending on the format. He stated that when top players move formats, they make just minor tweaks.
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“In a day match, I have to cut down on my bat speed. My natural game is slightly attacking. But I rely more on timing. I try to understand my game and play accordingly. Shot selection is something I visualize and analyse a lot before changing formats. From watching top players one thing I have learnt is that the consistent players never have to change their game too much in T20. They back their cricketing shots and find a way to score," Patidar explained.
Patidar also commended Madhya Pradesh coach Chandrakant Pandit for assisting him in better understanding his game and taking it to new heights.
“He’s made so many players over the years. Do teen laddap-vappad khaake, bahut kuch seekha hai unse (learnt a lot from his tough coaching ways). He helps you to raise your game. I have learnt how to think about the game in great detail from him, and on thinking right, off-the-field," Patidar concluded.
(Hindustan Times inputs)
