3 min learnFeb 23, 2026 12:15 AM IST
Eyebrows have been raised when India lined up with out vice-captain Axar Patel of their essential Tremendous 8 match towards South Africa at Ahmedabad on Sunday. The choice to bench the allrounder in his dwelling state proved to be India’s undoing as they have been left wanting with the bat, dropping the match by a large 76 runs, their worst defeat by a margin of runs within the T20 World Cups.
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India’s assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate additionally mentioned that leaving Patel out of the match appeared just like the fallacious determination in hindsight. “We spent a lot time in deliberating. We have been taking a look at match-ups. Hindsight, it appeared just like the fallacious determination. Take nothing away from Axar. Very dissatisfied. Don’t besides somebody to offer the world cup on a platter. We’re allowed one mess-up. Guys can produce a turnaround. Two huge video games arising,” he mentioned on the post-match press convention.
Earlier, India skipper Suryakumar Yadav had mentioned at toss that they have been fielding the identical workforce which performed towards Netherlands, including that it was a tactical determination which noticed Patel make manner for Washington Sundar.
“It’s very harsh on Axar Patel, however we’re going with the identical workforce – only a tactical determination, so no modifications from the final sport,” he had mentioned. However the determination backfired with Sundar having an extraordinary sport, scoring simply 11 with the bat and going wicketless in 2 overs with the ball.
Within the match, David Miller rolled again the years with a stroke-filled fifty earlier than South Africa executed clinically with the ball to choke India and safe a good-looking 76-run win of their Group 1 Tremendous Eights match.
Opting to bat, South Africa rode on Miller (63 off 35 balls) and younger Dewald Brevis’ (45 off 29 balls) restoration act — 97-run fourth-wicket stand from simply 51 balls — to put up 187 for 7.
In reply, India by no means acquired going because the Aiden Markram-led facet outsmarted them to bowl the co-hosts out for 111 in 18.5 overs with Marco Jansen taking 4/22. Keshav Maharaj grabbed 3/24, whereas Corbin Bosch (2/12) additionally gave essential breakthroughs.