Now Reading: Rajat Patidar Pulls Out of India A Squad as Ayush Badoni Gets the Call
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Rajat Patidar Pulls Out of India A Squad as Ayush Badoni Gets the Call
Rajat Patidar Pulls Out of India A Squad as Ayush Badoni Gets the Call
India A have been hit by a late blow before the ACC Rising Stars Asia Cup. Vice-captain Rajat Patidar has withdrawn from the squad, and the BCCI has moved quickly to name Ayush Badoni as his replacement. A new deputy has also been appointed to Tilak Varma.
Patidar Withdraws to Manage Injuries
On November 8, the BCCI revised the India A squad after Patidar stepped away from the tournament. He had been named vice-captain in the original group.
The RCB captain told the board he should not be considered for selection in the fifty-over format. His reason was the need to manage his existing injuries.
Patidar asked the BCCI to be released from the India A squad to manage “existing injuries”, as reported by ESPNcricinfo.
The timing is awkward for India A, who lose both a senior batter and a leadership option. The BCCI’s response was swift.
Rinku Singh Steps Up as Vice-Captain
Rinku Singh has been appointed vice-captain. The KKR star will serve as deputy to captain Tilak Varma in the tournament.
The promotion follows a strong run of leadership roles for Rinku in recent months.
Rinku’s Captaincy Credentials
- Appointed KKR’s vice-captain for IPL 2026.
- Led Meerut Mavericks to the title in the UP T20 League 2026.
- Succeeded Bhuvneshwar Kumar as UP’s captain in white-ball domestic tournaments.
That experience makes him a natural fit for the vice-captaincy at short notice.
India A’s Updated Squad
Ayush Badoni is the only change to the 15-man group. Here is the full squad for the Rising Stars Asia Cup.
| Player | Role in Squad |
|---|---|
| Tilak Varma | Captain |
| Rinku Singh | Vice-captain |
| Prabhsimran Singh | Wicketkeeper |
| Kumar Kushagra | Wicketkeeper |
| Abhishek Sharma | Squad member |
| Vaibhav Sooryavanshi | Squad member |
| Suryansh Shedge | Squad member |
| Shahbaz Ahmed | Squad member |
| Vipraj Nigam | Squad member |
| Harsh Dubey | Squad member |
| Tanush Kotian | Squad member |
| Harshit Rana | Squad member |
| Prince Yadav | Squad member |
| Arshad Khan | Squad member |
| Ayush Badoni | Replacement for Patidar |
A Big Opportunity for Ayush Badoni
For Badoni, the call-up is another step in a strong 2026. The LSG star earned his maiden India call-up in January 2026. Now, as the year draws to a close, the right-handed batter is back in the scheme of things.
Badoni’s List A Numbers
| Format | Matches | Runs | Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| List A | 30 | 732 | 33.27 |
Those figures suggest a batter who can contribute in the fifty-over format. The Asia Cup gives him a stage to build on them.
What It Means for Patidar’s ODI Chances
The withdrawal is likely to dent Patidar’s hopes in one-day cricket. He has hinted that he is looking for a return to the Indian setup in T20Is instead.
He has not played for India since 2024. He has played just a solitary ODI in his career, and that may well remain the case.
Still, his form in T20s has been impressive. He has led RCB to two straight IPL titles, which keeps him firmly in the conversation for the shortest format.
The Road Ahead
India A now head into the Rising Stars Asia Cup with a refreshed leadership group and a new batter in the mix. Tilak Varma leads, Rinku Singh deputises, and Badoni gets a chance to make the most of his return.
Patidar’s absence leaves a gap, but the squad remains packed with young talent. All eyes will be on how the new combination settles when the tournament begins.
