After India’s Super-8 Loss to South Africa, Ravichandran Ashwin Criticizes Team Management. Says Dropping Axar Patel Was a Big Mistake

Brief By Newsbrief / 3:51 PM on 23 Feb 2026

In the Super-8 stage of the T20 World Cup 2026, India suffered a heavy 76-run defeat against South Africa, marking a shocking setback and raising questions about the team’s chances of reaching the quarterfinals. The match at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, saw India collapse to just 111 runs, with the batting lineup failing to build partnerships. After the loss, former Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin openly criticized the team’s coaching staff, led by Gautam Gambhir, and the management. Ashwin was particularly upset about Axar Patel being left out of the playing XI, calling him the team’s ‘Most Valuable Player’ (MVP). He argued that Axar’s consistency and experience were vital, and the team lost balance without him. Ashwin also criticized the management for making decisions based solely on “match-ups,” which he said is risky in a tournament of this scale where stability is key. He pointed out that dropping Axar and promoting Rinku Singh to No. 8 disrupted the team’s balance. His comments have sparked a heated debate among cricket experts and fans regarding selection and strategy, as India now faces pressure to win their remaining matches.