Former India batsman Aakash Chopra believes Rajat PatidarA return to the T20I side of India will have to wait, arguing that the current batting line-up leaves little room for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru captain despite his impressive performances.Patidar was not included in India’s 16-member squad for the ongoing five-match T20I series against England. His absence has sparked debate, especially with India fielding a predominantly left-handed top order.During a video on his YouTube channel, ‘Aakash Chopra’, the former opener was asked whether the Patidar deserves a place in India’s T20I team. Chopra responded by saying that the bigger question is figuring out which batter to make.“It’s a very good question, but to find an answer to that question, we have to dig a little deeper and see who might come out. You’ve kept the left-handers in the top three at the moment. You won’t see Rajat Patidar in any of the places because you’ve got Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Abhishek Sharmaand Ishan Kishan,” replied Chopra.“There is no scope to change any of the three. Ishan Kishan is at No. 3. If you have the power to remove Ishan Kishan, remove him. He has become the No. 1 T20I batter now. It looks like we are not going well with Sanju,” he added.Chopra’s comments came after Sanju Samson, who was part of India’s victorious 2026 T20 World Cup campaign and finished as Player of the Tournament, was left out of the playing XI for the second T20I against England. Samson featured in the opening game but made way for Vaibhav Sooryavanshi at the top of the order after a string of low scores.The former India cricketer then assessed the middle order, pointing out that Shreyas Iyer and vice-captain Tilak Varma probably won’t lose their places. That, he suggests, leaves only Shivam Dube’s position as a possible opening for the Patidar.“Shreyas Iyer comes at No. 4, and your vice-captain, Tilak Varma, comes at No. 5. Shivam Dube comes at No. 6. If you don’t move the captain and vice-captain, which you don’t need, do you want to play Rajat Patidar in place of Shivam Dube?” he said in the same video.Although Chopra admits that Patidars deserve another opportunity at the international level, he feels that the time is not right as the current combination is difficult to break.“I am of the opinion that his time will come. Rajat Patidar will definitely play for India again. He has played Test cricket earlier. It is only a matter of time, but this time has just come? It only comes when you have someone to sit out. Who are you going to sit out? I don’t think there is any scope for his name to come up soon,” Chopra said.Patidar has represented India in three Test matches and one ODI so far. In domestic and franchise T20 cricket, he has compiled an impressive record, scoring 3,389 runs in 106 innings at a strike rate of 160.08, strengthening his case for another opportunity in India’s shortest format.