India's Tactical Choice to Play Washington Sundar Over Axar Patel in T20 World Cup Match Draws Criticism

India's decision to play Washington Sundar over vice-captain Axar Patel in their T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8 match against South Africa sparked widespread debate after a 76-run defeat. Assistant coach Ryan Ten Doeschate cited tactical match-up considerations against South Africa's left-handers as the reason. However, Sundar's limited impact and India's middle-over collapse drew criticism from former players like Ravichandran Ashwin and Ajinkya Rahane, who emphasized Axar's value and questioned the selection strategy. The loss has complicated India's semifinal prospects, prompting calls for more stable team combinations.