'Axar Patel deserves an explanation for removal from vice-captaincy': Ex-India star slams decision
NEW DELHI: Former India cricketer and commentator
Mohammad Kaif
has raised concerns over
Axar Patel
losing the vice-captaincy of the Indian T20I side, with
Shubman Gill
taking over the role. Patel, who was named deputy to Suryakumar Yadav for the five-match series against England earlier this year, was replaced following Gill's return to T20Is after a year-long absence.
Taking to social media, Kaif questioned the manner in which the change was handled.
Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel.
SUBSCRIBE NOW!
"I hope Axar Patel was informed about his removal from vice-captaincy in advance and he didn't come to know about it from the press conference. Axar did no wrong so he deserves an explanation," Kaif posted.
Patel has cemented his place as a dependable all-rounder across formats, making key contributions in India's T20 World Cup 2024 triumph.
He was named Player of the Match in the semi-final against England for his spell of 3/23.
In the final against South Africa, Patel played another pivotal role, scoring 47 off 31 balls when India were reeling at 34/3, and later dismissing Tristan Stubbs to tilt the game in India's favor.
Overall, Patel's T20I record highlights his consistency — 531 runs at a strike rate of 139.32, along with 71 wickets at an average of 22.12 from 71 matches.
India Asia Cup squad press conference: What Ajit Agarkar, Surya said on shocking calls
For the upcoming
Asia Cup
, India's selectors have included two other spinners, Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy, in the squad.
Among the notable exclusions are
Shreyas Iyer
and Yashasvi Jaiswal. India will open their Asia Cup campaign against hosts UAE on September 10.
Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
an hour ago
- Indian Express
‘I'll say if I am Jaiswal or Shreyas, now my chance is gone, so from the next time..': Ashwin's take on Jaiswal and Iyer missing out from Asia Cup squad
With the Ajit Agarkar led selection committee deciding about Indian red ball captain being the vice-captain for the upcoming Asia Cup and set to don the opener's role along with Abhishek Sharma or Sanju Samson, it meant that Yashasvi Jaisal missed out from the India's squad for Asia Cup. Jaisal, who has so far played in 23 T20Is for India scoring 723 runs at a strike rate of 164.31, had scored 559 runs at an average of 159.71 for Rajasthan Royals in this year's IPL. Along with Jaiswal, Punjab Kings skipper Shreyas Iyer, who had scored 604 runs in the IPL this year and led his team to the final, also missed out on a spot in the Indian team. Former Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has shared how this exclusion will lead both the players not to take risks in future. 'Not only has his (Yashasvi Jaiswal) slot gone, but there's a leadership role in that. Now, he's left with one spot — he needs to fight for Abhishek Sharma's place. Or he'll have to go and play in the middle-order in the IPL. He averages 36, with a strike rate of 165 in this format. It's very hard to find a guy like Jaiswal. He doesn't play for himself sometimes, I have seen a lot of batters who do. Shreyas (Iyer) is the same. Both of them play less for their average and more for strike rate. If the ball is there to be hit, they take the chance. It took a long time for India to get players with that brand of cricket. Now you got those players… I'll say if I am Jaiswal or Shreyas, now my chance is gone, so from the next time if a risk has to be taken, I won't. I'll play for myself because I need to secure my place. It's unfortunate you'll have to play for that in T20s,' Ashwin said on his Youtube channel Ash ki Baat. Chief selector Ajit Agarkar talked about Iyer and Jaiswal's exclusions in the press conference on Tuesday. 'It's unfortunate that Shreyas Iyer misses out. It's no fault of his, neither ours. He has to wait for his chance. We have got some serious options in the T20I squad…sometimes not the easiest squad to pick but a good headache to have. It's unfortunate Jaiswal has had to miss out but he will have to wait,' Agarkar had told the media on Tuesday.
Business Standard
an hour ago
- Business Standard
Prithvi Shaw fires back at critics after maiden FC hundred for Maharashtra
There's a saying that life is about second chances, and 25-year-old Prithvi Shaw is determined to make it his story. Once sidelined by the BCCI and Mumbai Cricket Association after poor form and off-field controversies, Shaw has been handed a new lease of life by moving from Mumbai to Maharashtra team in domestic cricket. He justified the move by scoring a fluent 111 against Chhattisgarh in the ongoing Buchi Babu Invitational tournament. Shaw fired back at critics after the match, saying he does not mind starting from scratch and is not seeking sympathy but only wants to perform for his team. Prithvi Shaw's move to Maharashtra: Last attempt to save career? Shaw, who began his international and domestic career in spectacular fashion, has struggled in recent years. Left out of the Indian squad since 2021, he was a regular for Mumbai and the IPL's Delhi Capitals but controversies and poor batting form derailed his career. His nightlife habits strained ties with Mumbai cricket, while underwhelming IPL returns cost him his place in the franchise. With few options left, Shaw switched to Maharashtra earlier this year. His debut ton suggests the decision could prove decisive in reviving his career. Focus on basics, not experiments After his century, Shaw said his comeback plan revolves around returning to basics rather than trying anything new. 'I am confident in myself and my work ethic. I just want to do what I did in my Under-19 days. I believe the 2025-26 season will be a turnaround year,' he said. Prithvi Shaw's career in numbers Shaw rose to prominence after leading India's victorious 2018 Under-19 World Cup campaign in New Zealand. The same year, he debuted for India in Tests and for Delhi Capitals in the IPL. His ODI debut followed in 2020 and T20I debut in 2021. However, his international run was short: five Tests, six ODIs, and one T20I. In the IPL, he played 79 matches for Delhi Capitals between 2018 and 2024 before going unsold in the 2025 auction. Prithvi Shaw career stats The bigger picture When Shaw started his career, many cricket experts and fans saw him as the next big thing in Indian cricket. But Shaw's lack of runs with the bat and off-field antics almost made him invisible to the same people. There is no denying that the 25-year-old batter has the potential to achieve great things in cricket, and his move to Maharashtra might just be what he needed to trigger that. If Shaw is successful with Maharashtra in the domestic circuit, he might find his way back to the IPL or even the Indian team, provided he maintains consistency.
First Post
an hour ago
- First Post
Will Rohit, Kohli Play 2027 World Cup? First Sports With Rupha Ramani
Will Rohit, Kohli Play 2027 World Cup? | First Sports With Rupha Ramani | N18G Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma may have stepped away from Test cricket, but the spotlight refuses to leave them. Fresh reports suggest the BCCI is mulling over their participation in the 2027 ODI World Cup, with possible calls for them to play domestic cricket to prove their place. Is it fair to question two of India's greatest white-ball players so early? Should legacy, leadership, and experience be enough, or will form and fitness be the ultimate deciders? With voices like Sourav Ganguly and Aakash Chopra weighing in, this debate goes beyond just two players - it has now become the future of Indian cricket's selection philosophy. Rupha Ramani looks at BCCI's motto to end the star culture and what needs to be done to balance individual legacies with the long-term interests of Indian cricket. See More
