“I Apologised”: Suryakumar Yadav Admits Dropping Axar Patel Was a ‘Mistake’ During 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup
Indian cricket team captain Suryakumar Yadav has made a candid admission about a controversial selection decision during the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, revealing that dropping all-rounder Axar Patel for the Super 8 match against South Africa national cricket team was a mistake.
In a recent interview, Suryakumar acknowledged that the decision did not work in India’s favour and even led to a tense moment between him and Axar after the match. The move proved costly as India suffered a heavy defeat to South Africa — their only loss in the entire tournament.
According to Suryakumar, the decision to leave Axar out of the playing XI was a tactical one. Instead, the team management opted to include Washington Sundar for the clash. Axar had earlier missed India’s final group-stage match against the Netherlands national cricket team due to injury, but the Super 8 omission was purely based on strategy.
Speaking about the incident, Suryakumar revealed that Axar was understandably upset with the call.
“He was very angry — and he should have been. He’s an experienced player and leads a franchise as well. I apologised to him. I told him I made a mistake and I’m sorry,” Suryakumar said.
The Indian skipper added that it was a difficult conversation but the two players resolved the matter soon after.
“It was a hard conversation. But he took it in his stride and we spoke again the next day,” he explained.
Despite the setback against South Africa, the Indian team bounced back strongly to clinch the tournament title. India eventually defeated the New Zealand national cricket team in the final held in Ahmedabad, producing a dominant performance to lift the trophy.
India posted a massive total of 255/5 in the final, the highest ever in a T20 World Cup final. The innings was powered by a blistering 52 off 21 balls from Abhishek Sharma and a strong partnership with Sanju Samson. Later, Samson also stitched a crucial century stand with Ishan Kishan, while Shivam Dube added quick runs in the closing overs.
Chasing the huge target, New Zealand struggled under pressure as India’s bowlers kept striking regularly. A fighting half-century from Tim Seifert briefly gave the Kiwis hope, while Mitchell Santner tried to stabilise the innings. However, Indian bowlers including Axar Patel and Jasprit Bumrah ensured the opposition never gained momentum.
New Zealand were eventually bowled out for 159 runs, giving India a comprehensive 96-run victory.
For Axar Patel, the triumph was especially emotional. After the match, the all-rounder shared that the moment felt even more special because his son was watching him play from the stands for the first time. Posting on X, Axar said winning the World Cup was a childhood dream and a moment he would cherish forever.
India’s victory in the tournament created history. The team became the first to win the T20 World Cup three times and also the first side to successfully defend the title, having previously won the tournament in the 2007 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup and the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
While the selection controversy sparked debate during the competition, Suryakumar’s honest admission and apology have highlighted the spirit of accountability within the Indian team as they celebrated another historic achievement in world cricket.
