India’s Sanju Samson (PTI photo)

Former India batsman Aakash Chopra believes Rajat PatidarHis return to India’s T20I squad will have to wait for now, arguing that the current batting line-up leaves little room for the Royal Challengers Bangalore captain despite his impressive performances.Patidar was not included in India’s 16-member squad for the ongoing five-match T20 series against England. His absence has sparked debate, especially when India field a predominantly left-handed top order.During a video on his YouTube channel ‘Aakash Chopra’, the former opening batsman was asked whether Patidar deserves a place in India’s T20 team. Chopra replied that the big question is to identify which batsman should make the way.“That’s a very good question, but to find the answer to that question we have to dig a little deeper and see who can move out. You’ve got left-handed batsmen in the top three at the moment. You won’t see Rajat Patidar in any of those positions because you’ve got Vaibhav Suryavanshi.” Abhishek SharmaAnd Ishan Kishan,” Chopra replied.“There is no scope to change any of those three. Ishan Kishan is at No. 3. If you have the power to remove Ishan Kishan, remove him. He has become the No. 1 T20I batsman right now. It looks like we are not doing right with Sanju,” he said.Chopra’s comments come after Sanju Samson, who was part of India’s victorious 2026 T20 World Cup campaign and finished as the player of the tournament, was left out of the playing eleven for the second T20I against England. Samson appeared in the opening match but after consecutive low scores made way for Vaibhav Suryavanshi at the top of the order.After this, the former Indian cricketer assessed the middle order, pointing towards Shreyas Iyer and the vice-captain. Tilak Verma There was no possibility of him losing his place. He suggested that, only Shivam Dubey’s position is left as a possible opening for Patidar.“Shreyas Iyer comes in at No. 4, and your vice-captain, Tilak Verma, comes in at No. 5. Shivam Dubey comes in at No. 6. If you don’t want to change the captain and vice-captain, which you shouldn’t, would you like to play Rajat Patidar in place of Shivam Dubey?” He said in the same video.Although Chopra acknowledged that Patidar deserves another opportunity at the international level, he feels the time is not right as it is difficult to break the current combination.“I believe his time will come. Rajat Patidar will definitely play for India again. He has played Test cricket before. It is only a matter of time, but has that time come? It will come only when you have to sit someone out. Who will you sit out? This question has to be answered first.” I don’t think there is any chance of his name emerging immediately,” Chopra said.Patidar has so far represented India in three Test matches and one ODI. In domestic and franchise T20 cricket, he has amassed an impressive record of 3,389 runs in 106 innings at a strike rate of 160.08, strengthening his case for another opportunity in India’s shortest format setup.