India’s batting combination in second T20I against England sparks fresh debate, former all-rounder Irrfan Pathan It is recommended that team management seriously consider rajapatidar into the sides to provide better balance. India fielded as many as seven left-handed batsmen in their line-up at Old Trafford, including 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who became the latest left-hand batsman to join the left-handed top-order lineup that has already featured heavily. While Pathan did not describe the squad as an imminent issue, he feels that the lack of right-handed options makes Patidar a compelling candidate as India continue to fine-tune their squad ahead of the next T20 World Cup.
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Pathan wrote on “I really hope he gets a chance, especially as India still has enough time to experiment before the next T20 World Cup.” Patidar performed brilliantly in the 2026 IPL season, leading Royal Challengers Bangalore to their second consecutive title and scoring 501 runs in 14 innings. He maintains an excellent hitting rate of 192.69 and is one of the best players in this tournament. Despite representing India in three Tests and one ODI, the 33-year-old is still waiting for his T20I debut. His domestic T20 record is equally impressive, scoring 3,389 runs in 106 innings with a strike rate of 160.08. India’s batting combination has come under scrutiny after their four-match loss to England in Manchester. The defeat gave the hosts a 1-0 lead in the five-match series and was India’s third defeat in the last four T20 matches, with the remaining matches ending in a scoreless outcome. Shreyas IyerThe party posted 190/7 after making a useful contribution Abhishek SharmaIshan Kishan, the skipper himself and a late performance by Tilak Varma. However, England chased down the target with a one-goal lead, thanks in no small part to Jacob Bethell’s unbeaten 76, Harry Brook’s explosive 39 and the valuable support of Tom Banton. England’s bowling attack also impressed Sam CurranAlthough the visitors’ total was competitive, Jofra Archer and Will Jacks played a key role in restricting India.
