‘Akshar Patel has been your MVP’: R Ashwin slams Gautam Gambhir-led team management for ditching vice-captain | Cricket News
former indian offspinner Ravichandran Ashwin Questioning the team management’s decision to quit Axar Patel A crucial match of the 2026 T20 World Cup Super 8 against South Africa.India chooses to persist washington sundar In the lineup, he cited his favorable game against left-handers. However, the move did not pay off. Sundar scored 17 runs with two balls but failed to hit the bat and scored 11 runs to finish fifth ahead of Rinku Singh. Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dubey. The Indian team then suffered a 76-run defeat.
Speaking on his YouTube channel ‘Ash Ki Baat’, Ashwin said that while head-to-head strategies may work in franchise cricket, they are not always suitable for international tournaments as consistency is key.“I agree that IPL is good for the game, but you have to change teams because you have to play 14 games. But in a competition like ICC, the more stable you can make the team, the better,” Ashwin said.“I agree 100 percent that you have to use Washington Sundar against left-handers; you have to play him, I agree with all of that. But Axar Patel is the MVP of T20 cricket. Let us not forget what Axar Patel did,” he added.Ashwin made a strong case for Axar’s return, citing the all-rounder’s contribution in the 2024 T20 World Cup final, when India were under pressure as they chased South Africa.“In the last World Cup, against South Africa, India was in a chasing situation and Axar Patel came on in the same situation. He was paired with Virat Kohli and India crossed 170. Of course, Kohli’s experience is there, but Axar is not inferior. If India has a few wickets in hand and a stable midfield, they will chase down the target,” Ashwin said.India vice-captain Aksa was first rested against the Netherlands and then again absent during the Super Eights match in Ahmedabad. With the defeat leaving India’s hopes of reaching the semi-finals hanging in the balance, the focus will now shift to their next match against Zimbabwe at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Thursday.
