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"He was very angry": Suryakumar Yadav reflects on India's call to drop Axar Patel for South Africa clash
India’s victorious campaign at the Men's T20 World Cup 2026 will be remembered for many iconic moments, but skipper Suryakumar Yadav recently revealed that one decision during the tournament weighs heavily on him. Yadav admitted that dropping all-rounder Axar Patel for the Super 8 clash against South Africa was a mistake.
The decision, which saw spin-bowling all-rounder Washington Sundar included in the playing XI, did not go as planned, with India suffering a heavy defeat against the Proteas. The defeat against South Africa was India's only loss in an otherwise dominant tournament campaign.
During the Super 8 stage of the tournament, India tinkered with their lineup against South Africa, deciding to rest Axar Patel and bring in Washington Sundar. However, the move backfired, with South Africa securing a convincing win.
"He (Axar Patel) was very angry, and he should have been. He’s an experienced player; he leads a franchise. He should be angry," Suryakumar told The Indian Express.
Suryakumar said that after the defeat he personally spoke with Axar. The skipper revealed that he apologised to Axar for the call, admitting that the move had not worked in the team’s favour.
"I apologised. I told him I made a mistake, and I’m sorry, but it was a call for the team. It was a hard conversation. He took it in his stride, and we talked it through the next day."
Meanwhile, Axar Patel performed a major role in India's title win, taking 11 wickets in eight games. His performance in the semi-final against England was highly effective, contributing heavily in the field with two astonishing catches.
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