In a significant setback for the Indian cricket team, all-rounder Axar Patel has been ruled out of the final two T20 Internationals against South Africa. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed the development on Monday, attributing his absence to illness.
Medical Assessment in Lucknow
The left-arm spinner is currently with the squad in Lucknow, where he will undergo further medical evaluation. This news comes after Axar missed the crucial third T20I in Dharamshala on Sunday due to the same health concerns. The Men’s Selection Committee acted swiftly, naming Bengal all-rounder Shahbaz Ahmed as his direct replacement for the matches in Lucknow and Ahmedabad.
India's Commanding Victory Without Key Players
Despite the absence of both Axar Patel and premier pacer Jasprit Bumrah, the Indian bowling attack delivered a dominant performance in Dharamshala. Bowling first under chilly and dewy conditions, they dismantled the South African batting line-up, bundling them out for a mere 117 runs in 20 overs.
The Indian seamers and spinners combined effectively, with Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakravarthy, and Kuldeep Yadav each picking up two wickets. Captain Aiden Markram fought a lone battle with a fluent 61 off 46 balls, but a top-order collapse that saw South Africa reeling at 30/4 inside seven overs proved insurmountable.
Smooth Chase and Series Lead
In reply, after the pacers provided an exhibition of swing bowling, young opener Abhishek Sharma played a sparkling innings to power India to a smooth seven-wicket victory. This win gave India a 2-1 lead in the five-match T20 series.
The updated Indian squad for the last two T20Is is led by Suryakumar Yadav, with Shubman Gill as his deputy. The full squad includes: Suryakumar Yadav (C), Shubman Gill (VC), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Jitesh Sharma (WK), Sanju Samson (WK), Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Washington Sundar, and Shahbaz Ahmed.
The team will now look to seal the series in the upcoming match in Lucknow, adapting to the last-minute change in their squad composition.
