IND vs SA T20I: Shahbaz Ahmed Replaces Axar Patel

A major update in the ongoing series of T20Is between India and South Africa is that Axar Patel will not be playing in the last two matches because of illness. According to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Axar Patel is with the team in Lucknow, where his health will be evaluated. Worth noting is that he had already missed the third T20 international in Dharamsala.

Shahbaz Ahmed Called As Replacement

All-rounder Shahbaz Ahmed has been added to the team as a substitute for Axar Patel. Shahbaz Ahmed last played for India during the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou in the final match against Afghanistan. His addition will bring extra support to the Indian team in terms of a spin bowling all-rounder during the critical closing matches of the series.

India’s changes pay off in the 3rd IND vs SA T20I

Axar Patel was not the only player to miss this third T20 international. Jasprit Bumrah did not take part in this match because of personal reasons. His team replaced him with both Harshit Rana and Kuldeep Yadav. The impact of this substitution worked well in favour of the Indian team, which won this match with a seven-wicket margin.

Axar Patel’s Performance in the Series So Far

1st T20 I (Cuttack): Scored 23 runs off 21 deliveries and took outstanding bowling performances of 2/7

2nd T20I (New Chandigarh): Took 1/27 in three overs and scored 21 runs off 21 balls at No. 3 in a tricky chase of 214.

Current Performance of Shahbaz Ahmed

Shahbaz Ahmed has played three ODIs and two T20Is for the Indian team so far. But in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, he performed decently. He scored a total of 60 runs in five matches for Bengal with a strike rate of 133.33 and took four wickets with an economy rate of 8.25.

Series Update and Next Games

The fourth T20 will be staged in Lucknow, following which both sides will head to Ahmedabad in order to contest the series decider. The Indians are presently leading the five-match series with a 2-1 margin.