Ahmedabad, February 23: The Indian cricket team faced a significant defeat against South Africa, losing by 76 runs in the Super-8 match of the T20 World Cup 2026 held at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday. Following the loss, questions arose regarding the team’s playing eleven, particularly the decision to exclude all-rounder Akshar Patel.
Assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate addressed the media after the match, explaining the rationale behind Akshar Patel’s omission from the playing eleven.
Doeschate stated, “The decision was made after careful consideration of the team combination and the presence of several left-handed batsmen in South Africa’s top order. Left-handers Quinton de Kock, Ryan Rickelton, and David Miller posed significant threats to our team. Therefore, we prioritized an off-spin option that could be effective during the powerplay. We believed that Washington Sundar could be a more impactful bowler than Akshar in that phase.”
Sundar has a better record against left-handed batsmen during the powerplay, having taken 23 wickets in 57 innings, compared to Akshar’s 14 wickets in 62 innings. However, Akshar is generally more effective in the middle overs, claiming 63 wickets in 79 innings, while Sundar has taken 23 wickets in 48 innings. Had Akshar been part of the playing eleven, he might have been able to curb South Africa’s scoring rate and contribute significantly with the bat.
Unfortunately, the decision to include Sundar did not yield the desired results. He bowled two overs without taking a wicket, conceding 17 runs, and managed to score only 11 runs while batting.
South Africa won the toss and opted to bat first, posting a total of 187 runs for the loss of 7 wickets. The Indian team collapsed for just 111 runs, resulting in a 76-run defeat, complicating their path to the semi-finals.
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PK
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.
