Axar Patel's exclusion from playing XI sparked uproar... Ashwin slammed team management
The decision to leave Axar Patel out of the match against South Africa was surprising. Axar is the team's vice-captain and has proven effective with both bat and ball.
In the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026, the Suryakumar Yadav-led Indian team suffered a 76-run defeat against South Africa, their first loss of the tournament. Vice-captain Axar Patel's omission from the playing XI, played at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday, February 22nd, has sparked an uproar. All-rounder Washington Sundar was given preference over Axar.
Washington Sundar's abilities are undeniable, but Axar's experience could have been of great help to the team.
Axar Patel's exclusion from playing XI sparked uproar
Now, former Team India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has questioned Axar Patel's exclusion from the playing XI for this Super 8 match. On his YouTube channel, Ashwin stated that Axar has been India's Most Valuable Player (MVP) in T20 cricket and has bailed the team out of difficult situations on numerous occasions. He acknowledged that playing Washington Sundar against left-handed batsmen may be strategically correct, but Axar's contribution cannot be overlooked.
Ravichandran Ashwin said, "I 100% agree that Washington Sundar should be used against left-handed batsmen. But Axar Patel has been your MVP in T20 cricket. Last time, when the Indian team was in trouble against South Africa, Axar Patel partnered with Virat Kohli to take the team past 170. Kohli had experience, but Axar is second to none."
Assistant coach defends decision
Meanwhile, India's assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate defended the decision to leave out Axar Patel. He said that Washington Sundar was a more effective option against left-handed batsmen, both in the powerplay and against left-handed batsmen. However, Sundar could only bowl two overs in the match, conceding 17 runs. He was also dismissed for 11 runs off 11 balls. This raises the question: was excluding Axar a strategic mistake?
Summary
After India's defeat, the debate over the balance of the playing eleven has intensified. The team needed an all-rounder who could provide stability with both bat and ball in the middle overs. This shortcoming was clearly visible in Axar Patel's absence, especially when wickets fell regularly during the chase.
