India all-rounder Axar Patel has been ruled out of the remaining two T20I matches of the India vs South Africa series due to illness. Axar did not take part in the third T20I in Dharamsala, and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed on Monday, December 15, that he would not feature in any further matches in the series.
The spin-bowling all-rounder made his last appearance in the series during the second T20I, where he was promoted to bat at No. 3. However, Axar was unable to rescue India from a difficult situation, and the team went on to suffer a 51-run defeat in Mullanpur.
Axar is expected to be one of India’s key players in the T20 World Cup in 2026, which is scheduled to be hosted by India and Sri Lanka. His illness has come at a significant time, as the Indian team management is currently in the process of finalising the squad for the tournament. That said, unless the illness proves to be serious or long-term, it is unlikely to have any impact on Axar’s chances of selection.
More to follow…
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