Former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan has urged team management to include Rajat Patidar and Riyan Parag in the side after the 4-0 series loss against England. India suffered a 56-run loss in the final game of the series at Rose Bowl, Southampton, on Saturday.
Meanwhile, India had only two right-handers in their top seven – Sanju Samson and Shreyas Iyer – in the final game. Pathan reckons the selectors and the team’s think tank should include right-handers in the side.
While Patidar scored 501 runs in 14 innings at an average of 41.75 and a strike rate of 192.69, Parag scored 309 runs in 14 matches at an average of 23.77 and a strike rate of 157.65 in IPL 2026.
“India also needs to bring more right-handers and make them ready. We have a lot of left-handers anyway. If all are left-handers in the top seven, you have to find right-handers and make them ready. I would want to see if Rajat Patidar gets an opportunity going forward. Second, I want to see Riyan Parag. He is also a right-hander, and he also brings bowling. If he does well in domestic and A matches, then you must bring him. He can give you two overs as the sixth bowler,” Irfan Pathan said on his YouTube channel.
Pathan said India would need to be patient with new and young players, like Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who he is sure will succeed at the top level.
“I still feel that if there 5-6 new guys in the team, it is important to give them time. For example, Vaibhav Suryavanshi. He will do well going forward in international cricket, and I have no doubt. He will perform in different pitches as well. He is 15 and will learn. Indian cricket will have to persist with him and be patient.”
Pathan said it is important for the players to change their mindset and not expect a flat deck when they play in the domestic circuit.
“The most important thing is to change the mindset of the players. I am not talking only about international cricket but domestic cricket as well. Wherever there is a camp, everyone wants a flat pitch. Everyone does not want to play a lot of pace and only wants to focus on range hitting. No one wants to work on their skills. This is the mindset. And this is real feedback from real coaches. This mindset will have to change. Coaches and selectors will do their work, but you have a responsibility as players as well. We need to bring about an attitude change in batting,” he said.
India and England will next take on each other in a three-match ODI series, starting Tuesday at Birmingham, Edgbaston.
