IND vs SA: Blow for India! Axar Patel ruled out of the last two T20Is against South Africa, LSG all-rounder named as replacement

Axar Patel was part of the Indian XI for the first two T20Is against South Africa but missed third game in Dharamsala due to illness.

The Indian Cricket Team have suffered a massive blow ahead of the last two T20Is against the South Africa Cricket Team. All-rounder Axar Patel has been ruled out of the series due to illness, which he suffered ahead of the third T20I in Dharamsala. 

Axar Patel missed the third T20I due to illness and was expected to be fit by the time, the time the fourth T20I began. But his condition seemed to be much worse than expected as he has now been ruled out of the entire series, where two games are still left. 

This comes as a massive blow as Axar Patel is the backbone of the Indian T20I team. He has contributed massively with the bat and ball over the years and also was decent in the ongoing South Africa series. His absence will leave a massive void in the Indian XI, especially with India yet to seal the series.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) released the official statement on Axar Patel, adding that the all-rounder will remain with the team in Lucknow and will he assessed by the medical team. The statement read:

“Team India allrounder, Axar Patel has been ruled out of the remaining two IDFC First Bank T20Is against South Africa due to illness. However, he is with the team in Lucknow where he will be further medically assessed.”

Shahbaz Ahmed named as Axar Patel’s replacement in the Indian squad for the last two T20Is against South Africa 

In place of Axar Patel, the BCCI has added Shahbaz Ahmed into the squad for the last two T20Is against South Africa. Releasing the official statement on the same, the governing body said:

“The Men’s Selection Committee has named Shahbaz Ahmed as his replacement for the T20Is in Lucknow and Ahmedabad.”

Shahbaz Ahmed has represented India in three ODIs and two T20Is, taking three and two wickets respectively. In the Indian Premier League (IPL) too, he has been decent and would want to make an impact in the last two games against South Africa and put his case forward for the ICC T20 World Cup 2026. 

India’s updated squad for last two T20Is

Suryakumar Yadav (C), Shubman Gill (VC), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Jitesh Sharma (WK), Sanju Samson (WK), Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Washington Sundar, Shahbaz Ahmed

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