India’s crushing defeat to South Africa in the T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8 clash on Sunday has triggered intense debate across the cricketing fraternity. While losses are part of the sport, the manner in which the Proteas outplayed Suryakumar Yadav’s side has drawn sharp scrutiny, particularly over team selection.

One of the biggest talking points was the omission of Axar Patel from the playing XI. Despite being a key figure in India’s T20 setup, the Gautam Gambhir-led team management opted to leave out the all-rounder for the crucial encounter, a move many believe backfired badly.

Among the most vocal critics was former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who lambasted the decision-makers and labelled two calls as “major blunders”: dropping Axar Patel and sending Rinku Singh in at No. 8.

Ashwin, now an active cricket analyst following his retirement, questioned the over-reliance on match-ups in a high-stakes ICC tournament. He argued that stability should take precedence over tactical tinkering in global events.

“I agree that match-ups are important in leagues like the IPL where you play 14 games. But in ICC tournaments, consistency in selection is crucial. Yes, Washington Sundar can be effective against left-handers, and I understand that logic. But Axar Patel has been India’s MVP in T20 cricket. We can’t overlook what he has delivered,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.

The veteran off-spinner also recalled the 2024 T20 World Cup final, where Axar played a pivotal role with the bat. In that match, he stitched together a vital 72-run partnership with Virat Kohli to help India post a competitive total of 176. Ashwin suggested Axar could have provided similar stability against South Africa.

Also Read: MS Dhoni set for IPL 2026 return but with a twist

“In the last World Cup, under similar pressure against South Africa, Axar walked in and built a crucial stand with Kohli. India crossed 170 because of that partnership. Kohli’s experience was vital, but Axar’s contribution was equally important. If India had more wickets in hand and middle-overs stability this time, the chase could have been different,” he added.

Ashwin was equally critical of India’s batting order, particularly the decision to push Rinku Singh down to No. 8. According to him, a finisher of Rinku’s calibre should not be batting that low, especially when India fielded eight batting options.

“Rinku Singh at No. 8 doesn’t make sense. A player of his quality cannot be sent in so late. No disrespect to Washington Sundar, he’s a fine batter, but this was a lesson from South Africa: you cannot enter such big games underprepared,” Ashwin remarked.

With the Super 8 stage heating up, the spotlight is now firmly on India’s team combinations and tactical approach as they look to stay alive in the tournament.