- February 23, 2026
Ex-IND Opener Blasts Gambhir For Axar Patel Selection Call: ‘If He Is Your Vice-Captain…’
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Aakash Chopra questions India’s T20 World Cup XI after Axar Patel was benched for Washington Sundar in the Super 8 loss to South Africa, ending India’s 12-match unbeaten streak.
Axar Patel with Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir (PTI)
Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra has questioned the Indian team’s playing XI combination after their defeat to South Africa in the Super 8 fixture of the ongoing T20 World Cup on Sunday. Chopra believes that India shouldn’t have appointed all-rounder Axar Patel as vice-captain if his spot in the playing XI was uncertain.
India opted for Washington Sundar in their Super 8 clash against the Proteas, benching their vice-captain. This decision ended India’s 12-match unbeaten streak at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, as South Africa handed the defending champions a 76-run defeat in Ahmedabad on Sunday. This marked India’s second-biggest defeat by runs in all T20 Internationals, following the 80-run loss to New Zealand in Wellington in 2019, and their largest defeat in T20 World Cup history.
“Where were we left behind? The first thing that comes to my mind is, what team are we playing? You have appointed Axar Patel the vice-captain. If he is your team’s vice-captain, why isn’t he a part of the team? You needn’t have made him the vice-captain,” Chopra was quoted as saying on his YouTube channel.
Chopra felt that choosing Sundar over left-arm spinner Patel in India’s last group stage match against the Netherlands was acceptable, but he questioned the decision to bench Patel against the Proteas, suggesting it was due to the opposition having right-handers in their lineup.
“You made him sit out in the last match. Never mind, as Washi hadn’t played for such a long time, and you played him since you were playing against the Netherlands, but you made him sit out against South Africa. You said it’s becoming a negative match-up as there are three left-handers in the opposition,” he added.
SA Used Maharaj
Chopra also pointed out that South Africa kept their key left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj in their XI despite India having six left-handers in their batting order, while India left out their vice-captain.
“Two of the three left-handers bat in the top three, and both were out in two overs. We have six left-handers among our eight batters, and South Africa said they would play Keshav Maharaj because he is their main bowler. They said they won’t make Keshav sit out because he is important. For you, your vice-captain is not important. How is that okay?” Chopra questioned.
(With inputs from Agencies)
February 23, 2026, 15:23 IST
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