"Why are you playing Axar Patel?": All-rounder's career in jeopardy, claims ex-India cricketer

Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra has raised serious questions about the Indian cricket team management’s handling of all-rounder Axar Patel in the ongoing four-match T20I series against South Africa.

Despite the pitches at Kingsmead and St George’s Park offering enough help to spinners, Axar Patel was underutilized, bowling just a single over in the first two T20I matches.

This has left the cricket pundit baffled, especially since both Varun Chakravarthy and Ravi Bishnoi have been in sublime form, picking up six wickets between them in the first and second T20I matches.

Aakash Chopra questions Axar Patel's underutilization in South Africa T20Is

With spinners dominating the game, the question on everyone’s mind is why Axar wasn’t given more opportunities to showcase his skills with the ball against South Africa. Aakash Chopra has also expressed his concerns, urging the Indian cricket team management to provide clarity regarding Axar's role in the T20I side.

Read Also: ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Dinesh Karthik orders BCCI to select Varun Chakravarthy in India's CT squad

Indian spinners have been on a roll in the first two T20I games in South Africa, but Patel was given only two overs across the two innings on the spun-friendly pitches, and that left many, including the commentator, frustrated.

Chopra criticized India for squandering the potential of one of India's most reliable stars, Axar. Given the spin-friendly conditions, the decision to limit Axar’s involvement seems like a missed opportunity.

Why are you playing him?: Aakash Chopra asks Suryakumar Yadav

He questioned India skipper Suryakumar Yadav's handling of Axar, saying his leadership and strategic decisions were out of his understanding in terms of the spinner’s utilization.

Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube channel, “What are we actually doing with Axar Patel? Why are you playing him? Give a little clarity. Axar Patel—one over in Kingsmead, Durban, and here also just one over. On a pitch where six of the seven wickets were picked up by spinners, he bowled just one over.”

Slamming Suryakumar Yadav, Chopra further noted: “In my opinion, he is being underutilized as a resource. We are saying that you are playing three spinners, but you are unable to play them properly... Not bowling Axar Patel was an obvious mistake on Surya's part.”

Read Also: IPL Auction 2025: Mumbai Indians' role in Hardik Pandya's 'selfish' knock vs SA exposed

Aakash Chopra hails Tristan Stubbs for his match-winning knock in the 2nd T20I

Axar Patel bowled just one over in the second T20I match, giving away only 2 runs, but surprisingly, he wasn't brought back into the attack against his Delhi Capitals (DC) teammate, Tristan Stubbs. Stubbs was struggling against the spin throughout his unbeaten knock of 47 runs, but he was brilliant against the seamers and hit seven boundaries against India.

The cricket pundit hailed Tristan Stubbs for his match-winning knock but slammed Suryakumar Yadav’s captaincy and highlighted his mistake, which cost them the second T20I.

Chopra signed off by saying, “That was a thing that stood out here as Tristan Stubbs, who played well, wasn't able to pick length properly at the start. He was going back against full deliveries. He is a quality player, and he showed in the end how and why.”