IND vs SA LIVE: Rajat Patidar India Debut? Rajat Patidar’s life has turned upside down after a brilliant 112-run knock in IPL 2022. That innings for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) under pressure has defined his career. The Madhya Pradesh batter also got the confidence and proved his worth in the Ranji Trophy with match-winning knocks. Now, with Team India, he is aiming to learn from lessons given by Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers at RCB. He is in the fray to make his India debut against South Africa in the ODI series. Follow India vs SouthAfrica 1st ODI LIVE Updates on InsideSport.IN.
“Virat Kohli and AB De Villiers are my idols. They are highly experienced in international cricket. I looked at them and wondered how would I talk to them. But then they talked to me themselves, it was a good moment for me. It gave me confidence,” Rajat Patidar said in a video posted by BCCI on Wednesday.
IND vs SA LIVE: Rajat Patidar on CLOUD NINE after joining Team India, aims to learn from idols Virat Kohli & AB de Villiers’ lessons at RCB, Watch Video
Indian batter Rajat Patidar, selected for the national side after good performances in Indian Premier League (IPL) and domestic cricket, said on Wednesday that Virat Kohli is his idol and he tries to imbibe his intensity in his own game.
Patidar received his maiden national side call-up for three-match ODI series against South Africa, which will start from Thursday onwards in Lucknow.
Preps ✅#TeamIndia ready for the #INDvSA ODI series. 👍 👍 pic.twitter.com/5fY3m1a8lq
— BCCI (@BCCI) October 6, 2022
I have learnt a lot from Dinesh Karthik, Virat Kohli, and AB De Villiers in the nets while playing for Royal Challengers Bangalore. Especially Virat, who carries the same intensity in both nets and matches. It feels good watching it and I try to add on that intensity in my own game,” said Patidar in a video posted by BCCI.
Patidar admitted that his Indian call-up is a dream come true and said that the IPL 2022 eliminator against Lucknow Super Giants, where he scored 112*, was a turning point of his career.
IND vs SA LIVE: Rajat Patidar on CLOUD NINE after maiden call-up, aiming to learn from idols Virat Kohli & AB de Villiers’ lessons at RCB, Watch Video
The batter said that he enjoyed his first practice session with Team India and felt good after talking and being appreciated by veteran opener and stand-in captain Shikhar Dhawan.
“It feels good when legends appreciate you. It gives me motivation. When the team claps for you, it gives you motivation,” he added.
On how he approaches different formats in IPL and domestic cricket, the batter said, “That IPL knock gave me confidence. But white-ball and red-ball cricket are different. I have the ability to play all formats. I try focusing on both formats separately, keep myself in present and play as per the demand of the team.”
Patidar had a breakout IPL season with RCB this year, which saw him score 333 runs in eight matches at an average of 55.50 with a century and two fifties.
From turning dreams into reality, learning from @imVkohli & @ABdeVilliers17 to getting appreciated by @DineshKarthik. 🙌 🙌 #TeamIndia @rrjjt_01 sums up his incredible journey ahead of the #INDvSA ODI series. 👌 👌 – By @ameyatilak
Full interview 🎥 🔽https://t.co/mGMtKSKAEc pic.twitter.com/AEIV0V4mvl
— BCCI (@BCCI) October 5, 2022
He followed it with a match-winning ton in Ranji Trophy final for Madhya Pradesh and he ended the season with 658 runs, second in batting charts.
The batter also impressed on his India-A debut, scoring 319 runs in four innings at an average of 106.33, including a century on his debut against New Zealand A. He also scored 65 runs in two innings in the ODI series after the Test series against NZ-A.
IND vs SA LIVE: Rajat Patidar on CLOUD NINE after maiden call-up, aiming to learn from idols Virat Kohli & AB de Villiers’ lessons at RCB, Watch Video
India squad against South Africa: Shikhar Dhawan (C), Shreyas Iyer (VC), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shubhman Gill, Rajat Patidar, Rahul Tripathi, Ishan Kishan (WK), Sanju Samson (WK), Shahbaz Ahmed, Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav, Ravi Bishnoi, Mukesh Kumar, Avesh Khan, Mohd. Siraj, Deepak Chahar.
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