ICC T20 World Cup 2026: Axar Patel Sweats It Out At Nets Ahead Of India’s Must-Win Game Against Zimbabwe

Axar Patel polishing his left-arm spin skills for nearly 30 minutes at nets is not a rarity, but questions around his possible return to the playing 11 for India’s must-win game against Zimbabwe lend gravitas to the sight.

Axar was benched in favour of Washington Sundar during the previous match against South Africa at Ahmedabad, raising bedlam among fans and pundits alike.

From a cricketing perspective it was not a flawed idea, as the management wanted to use Washington’s off-spin against two power-hitting SA left-handers -- Quinton de Kock and Ryan Rickleton -- in the Power Play.

But the strategy which was woven heavily around match-up calculations failed to take off as Jasprit Bumrah accounted for both De Kock and Rickleton in the Power Play phase.

India’s assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate had hinted as much.

“We spent so much time deliberating about the 11. I guess the only way that it sort of didn't play into our hands is if we did have the ideal start like we did today with getting Quinton and Rickelton out so early. We were kind of looking at matchups more in the middle. And then obviously, someone has to give way,” Doeschate had said after the 76-run defeat against the Proteas.

That result has made India’s two remaining Super Eights matches must-win affairs and the first of which is against Zimbabwe here on Thursday.

Zimbabwe too have two left-handers in their top-order -- opener Tadi Marumani and Ryan Burl at No. 4.

Therefore, will Washington be able to keep his place in the eleven? Or will Axar make a return, pushing behind the match-ups?

The unavailability of Rinku Singh gives the team management an opening to call back Axar without sacrificing Washington, but they also have the option of drafting Kuldeep Yadav.

But beyond the calculations, Axar should be a shoo-in for the Super Eights and beyond because of his ability to target stumps.

He is an absolute bank with the ball, as his six wickets from three matches have come at an average of 12.16 and an economy of 6.63.

Pitch factor ======= The Chepauk pitch for the match against Zimbabwe is expected to be a mix of red and black, with the latter component dominating.

Hence, the deck could offer the batters the freedom to open their shoulders, increasing the value of Axar’s metronomic qualities.

Even head coach Gautam Gambhir had asserted that team selection is not entirely based on numbers but on the value each player brings to the table.

“We don’t look at averages and stats and all that stuff. We look at who can deliver more at that number. And Axar has done fabulously well. There will always be people talking about it, but I think that’s the way we want to go in future as well,” he had said.

Gambhir’s thought fits perfectly to the current situation. PTI UNG ATK