Suryakumar admits Axar omission error at T20 World Cup
India captain Suryakumar Yadav has admitted he made a mistake by leaving Axar Patel out of a crucial ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8 match against South Africa in Ahmedabad, a decision that ended in India’s only defeat of the tournament.
Axar had earlier missed a group-stage game against the Netherlands due to a minor injury, but his absence against South Africa was a tactical call, with Washington Sundar picked instead. The move backfired as India lost the match.
Suryakumar later revealed he personally apologised to the all-rounder after the game. “He was very angry — and he should have been,” Suryakumar told The Indian Express. “He’s an experienced player and a leader in his franchise.”
The skipper admitted the conversation was not easy. “I realised it was my mistake, so I went and spoke to him,” he said.
Despite the setback, India recovered strongly and continued their campaign, while the episode highlighted the difficult decisions captains face in high-stakes tournaments.