Axar Patel Ruled Out Of Final Two T20Is Against South Africa

India Suffer Setback as Axar Patel Ruled Out of Final Two T20Is: The Indian cricket team has suffered a major blow in the ongoing five-match T20I series against South Africa. Veteran all-rounder Axar Patel has been ruled out of the final two games, coming at a key moment in the series.

So far, the BCCI has not announced a replacement for Axar Patel. The series remains tightly contested, with India winning the first match, South Africa leveling things in the second, and India regaining control with a convincing win in the third T20I.

Report Confirms Axar Patel’s Exit From the Series:

According to a report by Sports Tak, Axar Patel will miss the remaining matches of the five-T20I series against South Africa. This update surfaced just days ahead of the fourth match, and the BCCI is yet to name a replacement for him.

There is also some uncertainty around Jasprit Bumrah. He returned home on December 14 due to personal reasons, and the board has not confirmed whether he will be available for the upcoming game.

The fourth T20I is scheduled to take place at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow on Wednesday, December 17. A win in this match would allow India to clinch the series with one game still left to play.

Axar Patel’s Strong Start and What India Might Miss:

Axar Patel made a strong impression early in the series with a standout performance in the opening T20I. He delivered a superb bowling spell, picking up two wickets for just seven runs as South Africa were bowled out for 74. India went on to register a dominant 101-run victory.

He followed that up with another solid all-round display in the second T20I. Axar bowled three overs, conceded 27 runs, and took one wicket. During the chase, he was promoted to No. 3 and scored a useful 21 off 21 balls, showing his value with the bat as well.

Possible Replacements and Looking Ahead:

With Axar Patel now unavailable, the team management has not yet revealed who will replace him in the squad. Washington Sundar is one of the available options, although he does not offer the same left-arm spin variety.

India will be hopeful that Axar recovers in time for the upcoming white-ball series against New Zealand, which is set to begin on January 11.

India Dominates Dharamsala to Take 2-1 Series Lead:

In the third T20I at Dharamsala, South Africa struggled badly with the bat on a pitch that clearly favored the bowlers. India’s pace and spin attack worked in perfect sync, applying pressure from the very start. South Africa lost four wickets for just 30 runs and were unable to form any meaningful partnerships.

The wickets were shared across the Indian bowling unit. Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakravarthy, and Kuldeep Yadav picked up two wickets each, while Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube also contributed with the ball. South Africa was eventually bowled out for 117.

Abhishek Sharma Sets the Tone in the Chase

Chasing a modest target, Abhishek Sharma took charge during the power play, attacking the bowlers and scoring freely to ease any early pressure. While the middle order did not score at a rapid pace, the strong start ensured the chase was always under control.

India reached the target comfortably, finishing the match with 25 balls to spare and taking a 2-1 lead in the series.