Why Suryakumar Yadav Snubbed Axar Patel For Washington Sundar In IND Vs SA T20 WC Super 8

Why SKY snubbed Axar Patel in IND Vs SA match [Source: AFP]

The T20 World Cup 2026 group stage matches are over, and the business end picks up as the riveting Super 8 battle begins for India as they take on South Africa at the iconic Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad. The two teams collided in the T20 World Cup 2024 finale, and the Proteas will be up for revenge.

Under the lights, Aiden Markram won the toss, and he had no hesitation in electing to bat first. India has not batted second this World Cup, and this would be a challenge for the Suryakumar Yadav-led side.

Why India has picked Washington Sundar over Axar Patel

In a surprising turn of events, India have gone unchanged from their previous match against the Netherlands, with Axar Patel snubbed for Washington Sundar, who retains his place. Is it a tactical blunder? Or does SKY has a plan?

On paper, Axar Patel is a better bowler and a better batter than Sundar. He has proven his worth time and again in this World Cup, but in the last fixture, Sundar was given a chance as Axar was given a rest. However, the Tamil Nadu player disappointed as he failed to pick up a single wicket, and was not required to bat.

So why has Suryakumar Yadav still preferred him over match-winner Axar Patel for this crucial Super 8 match?

Also Read: Axar Patel Ignored As South Africa Win The Toss And Ask India To Field In Super 8 Match

Sundar, an off-break bowler is brilliant against left-handed batters, and the Proteas team combination has 3 lefties in the top 6. Quinton de Kock will open the batting, and another left-hander, Ryan Rickelton, will bat at 3. David Miller returns in the middle-order as their presence will indirectly help the Indian spinner.

Sundar can drift the ball away from left-handers, and he can induce outside-edges, and can also bring caught behind into play. Off-break bowlers’ natural variation is moving the ball away from a lefty, and the Proteas batters are likely to be cautious against him.

For them, it is easier to target Axar, who will bring the ball back into them, than Sundar.

IND Vs SA playing XIs

India Playing XI: Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan (wk), Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, Washington Sundar, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah

South Africa Playing XI: Aiden Markram (c), Quinton de Kock (wk), Ryan Rickelton, Dewald Brevis, David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi

How India could use Sundar against South Africa

With two left-handers in the top three, Suryakumar Yadav would like to bring Sundar as early as possible. He could bowl a couple of overs inside the power play to test the skills of Quinton de Kock.

Alongside Markram, QDK is South Africa’s potent weapon as he can take the game away quickly. To nullify this threat, the skipper could use Sundar to take the wicket of the left-handed de Kock inside the first 6 overs.

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