Team India’s decision to leave vice-captain Axar Patel out of the playing XI against South Africa has come under intense scrutiny after the defending champions suffered a heavy 76-run defeat in the T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8s clash at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. The loss brought India’s impressive ICC winning momentum to an abrupt stop and sparked widespread debate among fans and experts.
Axar Patel was benched as the team management opted for Washington Sundar, citing tactical match-ups against South Africa’s left-handed batters. However, the move did not deliver the desired results. Sundar struggled to make an impact, conceding runs with the ball and contributing little with the bat, which further fueled criticism of the selection call.
Addressing the media after the match, India assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate clarified that the decision was purely strategic and not a reflection of Axar’s ability or importance to the side. He explained that the team spent considerable time finalising the playing XI and ultimately leaned towards balancing the batting depth while targeting perceived middle-overs match-ups.
Ten Doeschate highlighted that the management wanted an additional batting option and believed Washington Sundar’s ability to operate in the powerplay could be useful against key South African batters. He admitted that, in hindsight, the call did not work but stressed that decisions were made with the best intentions at the time.
The assistant coach also acknowledged that dropping Axar Patel, especially given his role as vice-captain, was not an easy choice. He expressed hope that Axar would understand the rationale behind the move, adding that tournament cricket often forces tough decisions when trying to fit the best combination into the final eleven.
Washington Sundar’s performance ultimately failed to justify the gamble. He bowled two overs without creating pressure and later scored only 11 runs while batting at number five, coming ahead of established finishers. Ten Doeschate defended Sundar’s selection by stating that franchise form cannot always be compared to international cricket and that the team judged him based on his performances in Indian colours.
With two Super 8 matches still to play, the Indian team management now faces renewed pressure to reassess its combinations and get selection calls right as the race to the semifinals intensifies.