T20I vice-captain Axar Patel was dropped in two of the nine games India played en route to winning the T20 World Cup for the third time in history, both in Ahmedabad. One of those omissions came in the Super 8 clash against South Africa, which India lost by 76 runs and which briefly pushed them to the brink of elimination.
Axar Patel was not part of the playing XI for the match against South Africa
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The defeat triggered criticism of the team management’s decision to leave out Axar in such a crucial game. Although India maintained it was a tactical call, the all-rounder himself wasn’t pleased with the decision.
With South Africa fielding several left-handers in their batting line-up, India opted to play Washington Sundar instead, hoping to gain a favourable match-up. On paper, the move appeared logical, but the game never unfolded in a way that allowed India to use Sundar as intended.
While the selection call ultimately had little bearing on the heavy defeat, it still drew widespread scrutiny. Inside the dressing room too, emotions were running high.
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While the selection call ultimately had little bearing on the heavy defeat, it still drew widespread scrutiny. Inside the dressing room too, emotions were running high.
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Speaking to The Indian Express, captain Suryakumar Yadav admitted Axar was furious after being left out of the playing XI. The skipper revealed he later apologised to the all-rounder and acknowledged that the call may have been a mistake.
“He was very angry, and he should have been. He’s an experienced player, he leads a franchise. He should be angry. I apologised. I told him I made a mistake and I’m sorry, but it was a call taken for the team. It was a hard conversation. He took it in his stride and we talked it through the next day,” Suryakumar said.
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The captain also described the loss to South Africa as a turning point in India’s campaign.
“India vs South Africa was the eye-opener. I never had any doubt in this team, but it tightened our screws. After that there was no option of coming back. For us, Zimbabwe was a pre-quarter-final. West Indies was the quarter-final. Then the semis and the final. We had to play every game like a knockout.”
India responded strongly after the setback, winning their remaining Super 8 matches before defeating England in the semi-final and New Zealand in the final to become the first team in history to win back-to-back T20 World Cup titles.
Aratrick Mondal is a senior sports journalist based in New Delhi. In his eight years as a sports writer, Aratrick has worked at leading media organisations, including The Times of India, Times Now, Zee, India TV and currently works at a senior position at Hindustan Times Digital. He writes on cricket, football, pickleball and tennis, among other sports. He has extensively covered India's evolving cricket landscape, the country's new-found love for private leagues such as Indian Pickleball League (IPBL), Ultimate Kho Kho League (UKK), Rugby Premier League (RPL) and several tennis leagues. He has closely covered emerging sports such as pickleball. His coverage of major franchise events lends an atmospheric flavor to his ground reports. His recent story on how SA20 (the domestic cricket league of South Africa) had opened up its grounds to create a carnival-like fan experience garnered major international attention, including appreciation from major cricketers. Tennis holds a special place in his heart. Aratrick has built a strong niche in analytical tennis stories—ranging from Grand Slam narratives and player profiles to tactical breakdowns and ranking trends. His long-form features often decode grand slams, career highs and lows of tennis greats and the upward trajectory of emerging stars. He also closely follows India's tennis landscape, having covered the Davis Cup, Bengaluru Open and Tata Open, among others. His reporting is backed by strong data capabilities, with hands-on experience using tools like Python, Tableau, and Excel to produce visually rich, insight-led stories. This data-first approach enhances accuracy, transparency, and trust. In leadership roles, he has managed editorial shifts, overseen homepage strategy, optimised SEO workflows, and mentored peers to deliver consistent, high-traffic journalism. He recently won the HT DigiStar award for the third quarter of financial year 2025-26. Aratrick is trusted for his balanced reportage, sound sourcing, and ability to translate complex sporting events into engaging narratives that speak to a wide audience. He believes sports is for everyone, not just for the enthusiasts and has a unique ability to bring people together - just like the sumptuous meals you'll often find him cooking on a weekend evening.
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Home/Cricket/‘Axar Patel was angry’: Suryakumar Yadav apologised after Ahmedabad call backfired, says ‘I made a mistake’
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