Former India opener and commentator Aakash Chopra has raised serious questions about the India national cricket team’s team selection following their heavy defeat to the South Africa national cricket team in the Super 8 stage of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. The former cricketer believes India’s team combination looked confusing, particularly regarding the role of vice-captain Axar Patel. India decided to field Washington Sundar instead of Axar in the crucial clash against South Africa.
The decision backfired as the defending champions suffered a crushing 76-run defeat in Ahmedabad, ending their impressive 12-match unbeaten run in T20 World Cups. The loss also became India’s biggest defeat in the history of the tournament and their second-largest defeat by runs in T20 Internationals, only behind the 80-run loss to the New Zealand national cricket team in Wellington in 2019.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Chopra questioned the logic behind appointing Axar Patel as vice-captain if the team management was unsure about his place in the playing XI.
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“Where were we left behind? The first thing that comes to my mind is what team are we playing,” Aakash Chopra said. “You have appointed Axar Patel the vice-captain. If he is your team’s vice-captain, why isn’t he part of the team? You needn’t have made him the vice-captain.”
Chopra admitted that India’s decision to play Washington Sundar in the group-stage match against the Netherlands national cricket team could still be justified, as Sundar had not featured for a while and it gave him some game time. However, he was surprised that Axar was again left out in the high-stakes clash against South Africa.
“You made him sit out in the last match. Never mind, as Washi hadn’t played for such a long time and you were playing against the Netherlands,” Aakash Chopra explained. “But you made him sit out against South Africa. You said it’s becoming a negative match-up because there are three left-handers in the opposition.”
Chopra further compared India’s approach with South Africa’s selection strategy. The Proteas stuck with their premier spinner Keshav Maharaj despite India having multiple left-handers in their batting order.
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“We have six left-handers among our eight batters, and South Africa still played Keshav Maharaj because he is their main bowler,” Aakash Chopra noted. “For them he is important. For you, your vice-captain is not important. How is that okay?”
