Patidar feels destiny's play, but focuses on the present

Life can throw a curveball in many forms. And Rajat Patidar has experienced a range of emotions that professional sport can subject one to. Going from being an IPL auction-reject to a fortuitous injury replacement and scoring an eyecatching hundred for RCB. An India call-up followed, but he didn't get a game and then was sidelined by surgery.

- Rasesh Mandani

The Madhya Pradesh batter from Indore though had signed up to take the rough with the smooth the day he chose cricket over a successful family business. Grinding it out through the pain of rehabilitation following an Achilles tendon surgery, the 30-year-old has worked his way back to the national side with his selection for the upcoming ODI series in South Africa.

"Ab thoda bahut believe karta hu destiny main (Now, I believe in destiny a bit)," he says. Just out of the ice-bath at the Brabourne Stadium after helping Madhya Pradesh to another win in the Vijay Hazare Trophy one-day tournament, Patidar adds, "I try not to think too much into what's written in destiny. I try to stay in the present."

The mantra has helped the right-handed stroke-player stay focused.

"It feels very good to get another chance with the India set up after the surgery," he says. The last time Patidar was with the Indian team at home against South Africa last year he didn't get a game. The series too went unnoticed with the focus on India's T20 World Cup campaign in Australia.