Rajat Bhatia has been a consistent performer at the domestic level for more than 11 years now, but he’s know only as an “IPL player.” Bhatia made his FC debut in the year 2000, and, since then, he has been waiting for his international call. In his FC career, Bhatia has played 87 matches. In these 87 matches, he has scored 5089 runs at an average of 49. Bhatia is also a very clever bowler. He varies his pace and lengths intelligently, and is very effective on the slow sub-continent pitches. In his FC career, he has taken 107 wickets at an average of 28.89.
Bhatia, has always been considered as a ‘bits and pieces’ players. But, in reality, he’s more than just a ‘bits and pieces’ player. Bhatia, over the years, has been Delhi’s go-to man. In 2007/08, when Delhi won the Ranji Trophy, Bhatia’s role was instrumental. He scored 512 runs in 7 matches.
Many believe that Bhatia is more of a bowling all-rounder. But, because his role in KKR, was a of a main bowler, there’s a misconception about his batting. Bhatia has a decent batting technique and is capable of hitting the big ones. Bhatia, in the domestic circuit of India, is looked as someone who never gives up. He’s known as someone who performs better under pressure, and he has often been Delhi’s “crisis-man” in the Ranji Trophy.
As a bowler, Bhatia is a middle-overs specialist. With his subtle variations in pace and length, he goes through the middle overs very effectively. He’s very economical and is also capable of bowling good yorkers, as well.
This season, in the IPL, Bhatia has been picked by the Rajasthan Royals. And in an interview to Wisden India, he said, “RR see me as a better player than KKR did.” Bhatia is a key member of the Royals’ squad, and if he steps up to grab the opportunity, this season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) can be a career changing one for him.
The only problem with Rajat Bhatia has been that he has never had a spectacular Ranji season. He has been a consistent performer, but to catch the eye-balls of the selectors, one needs to have a spectacular season, or two.
We wish Rajat Bhatia all the best for this IPL season. And we hope that he will make it to the highest level.
