Rajat Patidar has withdrawn from India A's squad for the ACC Rising Stars Asia Cup, citing the need to manage existing injuries. On November 8, the BCCI revised the squad and added Ayush Badoni as his replacement. Rinku Singh now serves as vice-captain to Tilak Varma.
What Changed in the India A Squad
Patidar had been named vice-captain in the original 15-man squad. He told the BCCI he should not be considered for the fifty-over format while he manages his injuries. ESPNcricinfo also reports that he asked to be released from the squad for this reason.
The board replaced him with Ayush Badoni, keeping the squad at 15 players. Rinku Singh was appointed vice-captain in his place.
| Role | Before | After |
|---|
| Captain | Tilak Varma | Tilak Varma |
| Vice-captain | Rajat Patidar | Rinku Singh |
| Middle-order batter | Rajat Patidar | Ayush Badoni |
| Squad size | 15 | 15 |
Updated India A Squad
The revised group mixes openers, wicketkeepers, all-rounders and fast bowlers. Tilak Varma leads the side. Prabhsimran Singh and Kumar Kushagra are the two wicketkeepers.
| Category | Players |
|---|
| Batters | Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Tilak Varma (C), Rinku Singh (VC), Ayush Badoni |
| Wicketkeepers | Prabhsimran Singh, Kumar Kushagra |
| All-rounders | Suryansh Shedge, Shahbaz Ahmed, Vipraj Nigam, Harsh Dubey, Tanush Kotian, Arshad Khan |
| Fast bowlers | Harshit Rana, Prince Yadav |
Rinku Singh's Growing Leadership Record
Rinku has taken on more captaincy responsibility in domestic cricket recently. He was appointed KKR's vice-captain for IPL 2026. He also led Meerut Mavericks to the UP T20 League 2026 title.
He has succeeded Bhuvneshwar Kumar as Uttar Pradesh's captain in white-ball domestic tournaments. The vice-captaincy adds to a run of leadership roles across formats.
Leadership Roles at a Glance
| Team / Tournament | Role |
|---|
| KKR (IPL 2026) | Vice-captain |
| Meerut Mavericks (UP T20 League 2026) | Captain, title winner |
| Uttar Pradesh (white-ball domestic) | Captain |
| India A (Rising Stars Asia Cup) | Vice-captain |
Patidar's Limited India Record
Patidar has not played for India since 2024. He has played only one ODI in his career. The withdrawal reduces his chances in the 50-over format, with the report noting he appears more focused on a T20I return.
His franchise record remains strong. He has led RCB to two straight IPL titles, which keeps him relevant in the T20 conversation.
Patidar Career Snapshot
| Metric | Detail |
|---|
| ODIs for India | 1 |
| Last India appearance | 2024 |
| IPL titles as RCB captain | 2 (consecutive) |
| Reason for withdrawal | Managing existing injuries |
Ayush Badoni's Opportunity
Badoni earned his maiden India call-up in January 2026. The LSG batter is now back in the selection picture as the year closes. His List A numbers are modest but steady.
He has scored 732 runs in 30 List A matches at an average of 33.27. That works out to roughly 24.4 runs per match. The average implies about 22 dismissals across those innings.
Badoni List A Numbers
| Metric | Value |
|---|
| Matches | 30 |
| Runs | 732 |
| Average | 33.27 |
| Runs per match (derived) | approx. 24.4 |
Analytical Takeaway
The change is a like-for-like swap in the middle order, with the leadership group reshuffled. Rinku's recent captaincy record made him a logical choice as deputy. Badoni's List A average above 33 gives him a reasonable base to build on.
For Patidar, the decision prioritises fitness over selection chances in a format where he has one cap. His IPL captaincy results remain his strongest case for future T20I consideration.