Axar Patel Out of Remaining T20I Matches Due to Illness
India’s all-rounder Axar Patel will miss the last two T20I matches against South Africa because of illness. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced this on December 15, confirming that Axar couldn’t participate in the third T20I in Dharamsala and will not play again in the series.
Axar last played in the second T20I, where he batted at No. 3 but couldn’t help the team, resulting in a 51-run loss in Mullanpur.
Looking ahead, Axar is expected to be a key player for India in the upcoming T20 World Cup set for 2026, which will take place in India and Sri Lanka. His current illness is concerning for the Indian team, which is preparing its squad for the tournament. However, unless the illness is serious or prolonged, it shouldn’t affect his chances of being selected.
In light of Axar’s absence, Bengal’s Shahbaz Ahmed has been brought in as a replacement. Shahbaz has had a solid domestic season and has taken four wickets in the Syed Mushtaq Ali tournament, making him a fitting choice to fill in.
Kuldeep Yadav Steps Up
With Axar sidelined, Kuldeep Yadav was included in the squad for the 3rd T20I. The leg-spinner made a significant impact by taking two wickets at the close of the innings, contributing to India limiting South Africa to just 117 runs.
Abhishek Sharma also set the tone for India, scoring a quick 35 off just 18 balls. The Indian team managed to chase down the target in 15.5 overs, despite a bit of a slowdown.
The final two matches of the T20I series are scheduled to take place in Lucknow and Ahmedabad, with India currently leading 2-1 after three games. This series has seen quite one-sided matches, and South Africa’s captain, Aiden Markram, has acknowledged the need for his team to perform under pressure to stay in the contest.
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