Axar Patel Ruled Out of Remaining IND vs SA
Axar Patel Ruled Out of Remaining IND vs SA
In a major setback for Team India, star all-rounder Axar Patel has been ruled out of the last two T20Is against South Africa due to illness. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed the news on December 15, 2025, with Bengal’s Shahbaz Ahmed stepping in as his replacement.
India currently lead the five-match series 2-1, having won the third T20I in Dharamsala without Axar and Jasprit Bumrah.
Key Details of Axar Patel’s Exclusion
- Reason: Illness (Axar missed the third T20I and will now sit out the fourth and fifth matches)
- Replacement: Shahbaz Ahmed, a left-arm spinning all-rounder, providing a like-for-like option
- Axar’s Series Performance: Played the first two games – scored 44 runs and took 3 wickets
- Current Series Standings: India 2-1 South Africa
Axar is traveling with the team to Lucknow for further medical assessment, but he won’t feature in the playing XI.
Upcoming Matches in IND vs SA T20I Series
- 4th T20I: December 17, 2025 – Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow
- 5th T20I: December 19, 2025 – Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
With India needing just one win to seal the series, the team management will look to players like Washington Sundar or Kuldeep Yadav to fill the spin-all-rounder void. Shahbaz Ahmed, who last played for India at the 2023 Asian Games, gets a golden opportunity to stake his claim ahead of the 2026 T20 World Cup.
This development comes as India builds momentum under captain Suryakumar Yadav, aiming to dominate the Proteas at home.
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