In a scathing critique following India’s shocking 76-run defeat to South Africa in the T20 World Cup 2026 on Sunday, veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has pointed fingers squarely at the team’s selection strategy. Speaking on his YouTube channel ‘Aish ki Baat’, Ashwin expressed deep frustration over the decision to sideline Axar Patel in favor of Washington Sundar.
Ashwin acknowledged the importance of IPL matchups but stressed the need for consistency in ICC events. ‘You have to make changes for 14 league matches, but in a World Cup, fewer alterations lead to better results,’ he said. His primary ire was reserved for overlooking Axar, whom he described as one of India’s most crucial T20 players.
‘Don’t forget what Axar has done for the team,’ Ashwin urged, highlighting Axar’s match-winning contributions. He recalled Axar’s gritty batting in the T20 World Cup 2024 final against South Africa, where he partnered with Virat Kohli to push India past 170 runs under pressure. ‘Kohli had the experience, but Axar’s role was pivotal,’ Ashwin noted, suggesting better middle-order stability could have changed outcomes.
The former Indian off-spinner didn’t stop there. He questioned the batting order, particularly Rinku Singh being pushed to number 8 despite having eight specialist batsmen. ‘You can’t send Rinku to bat at 8. South Africa taught us a lesson: don’t enter the field unprepared,’ Ashwin concluded, calling for a serious rethink in team composition ahead of crucial matches.