India suffered a brutal reality check against South Africa as the country suffered a 76-run defeat at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. For this particular match, India appointed Washington Sundar in place of Patel, who is also the vice-captain of the side.
Why did Team India drop Axar Patel from the playing XI?
Why was Patel removed to make way for Sundar? So far there has been no clear answer to this. One theory has it that the Indian team management chose Sundar over Patel to counter the left-handed Proteas batters in the middle. However, the statistics do not support the theory.
Your daily dose of cricket!
According to statistics, Axar Patel, a spin bowling all-rounder like Washington Sundar, was more successful against the left-handed batters as compared to the right-handed ones.
During the live chat session on Cricbuzz, Michael Vaughan stated that when a backroom contains too many brains it can be problematic for the team. As long as a team is on a winning streak, no one will ask questions, but once it loses momentum, people will definitely point fingers at the decision, which could have led to a defeat. The former England captain wanted to know whose idea it was to bench Axar Patel and play Washington Sundar in such an important match.
Sometimes the brain makes life too complicated: Michael Vaughan
“There are so many in the back room. There are so many analysts, there are so many scientists, too many brains, and sometimes the brain makes life too complicated. And when you sit around the table with that many people and you won, you played well and Axar did a great job,” Vaughan said.
“I want to know the person who was at that board meeting and said, I think we should play Washington Sundar.”
𝐒𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐫 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐀𝐱𝐚𝐫 🤔
🗣️’Do you want to know who answered that phone call’@MichaelVaughan doesn’t hold back 👇#T20World Cup 2026 pic.twitter.com/G9ql8tOZ3R
— Cricbuzz (@cribuzz) February 23, 2026
As per the statistics, Patel’s average in T20Is against the right-handed batsman is 17.42 after delivering 488 balls. With an economy rate of 7.21, he took 28 wickets.
Against the left-handed batsman, the spinner got 8 wickets after delivering just 99 balls at an economy rate of 7.15, and the average stands at 16.50.
Axar Patel’s T20Is stats against right-handed batters and left-handed batters
Patel’s T20I stats vs right-handed batters
| Balls | 488 |
| Wickets | 28 |
| Average | 5.42 |
| Strike rate | 14.5 |
| Economy fare | 7.21 |
Patel’s T20I stats vs left-handed batters
| Balls | 99 |
| Wickets | 6 |
| Average | 4:50 p.m |
| Strike rate | 13.8 |
| Economy fare | 7.15 |
Read more: Abhishek Sharma thrown under the bus!! India coach blames him then hides behind ‘stomach problem’
#Michael #Vaughan #belt #treatment #Gautam #Gambhir #dropping #Axar #Patel