Rajat Patidar’s double century revives his india test hopes: Report

Rajat Patidar has once again shown why he’s among the most reliable batters in Indian domestic cricket. The Madhya Pradesh captain produced a superb display of skill, temperament, and leadership with a magnificent double century against Punjab in their Ranji Trophy 2025-26 clash at the Emerald Heights International School Ground in Indore.

After Punjab managed only 232 in their first innings, Madhya Pradesh had a shaky start. The early dismissals of Harsh Gawli and Yash Dubey left the hosts under pressure at 31 for 2. But Patidar walked in calmly and changed the course of the innings with his trademark composure. Supported by Himanshu Mantri and Shubham Sharma, he first steadied the innings before taking complete control.

The 32-year-old crafted a brilliant unbeaten 205 off 332 balls, laced with 26 boundaries. His knock was a perfect mix of patience and precision, reflecting the maturity of a player who knows how to build an innings under pressure. Alongside Venkatesh Iyer, who scored a fluent 75, Patidar guided Madhya Pradesh to 519 for 8 before declaring the innings, securing a massive 287-run lead.

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Rajat Patidar’s Double Ton Strengthens His Case for India Test Comeback

Patidar’s double century is his first in first-class cricket and surpasses his previous best of 196. More importantly, it has come at a time when national selectors are looking for strong middle-order options for the upcoming home Test series against South Africa. Newly appointed selector RP Singh was present in Indore to witness the innings, adding further weight to Patidar’s case for a recall.

The Madhya Pradesh captain has been in exceptional form throughout 2025. He led Royal Challengers Bengaluru to their maiden IPL title earlier this year and guided Central Zone to a Duleep Trophy triumph, scoring consistently across all formats.

With over 5,000 runs in first-class cricket at an average above 44, Patidar has once again underlined his readiness for international cricket. His double century wasn’t just about runs, it was a statement of intent, proving that his hunger for big performances remains as strong as ever.