Axar Patel, an important all-rounder in India’s T20 team, is out sick. He’ll miss the full three-match series in South Africa starting December 19. The BCCI announced it today, and now people are guessing who will replace him as India prepares for their white-ball tour.
Axar Patel’s performance in this series against South Africa
India has taken a 2-1 lead in the five-match T20I series after winning the third game by seven wickets in Dharamsala. Axar Patel missed that match due to health problems and is staying with the team in Lucknow for more checks before the fourth T20I on December 17. He played well in the first two games, taking three wickets and scoring 23 and 21 with the bat.
Performance stats in series
Axar Patel featured in the first two matches of the 2025 T20I series against South Africa:
| Match | Runs | Wickets |
| 1st T20I | 23 | 2 |
| 2nd T20I | 21 | 1 |
Replacement Player
Shahbaz Ahmed has joined the Indian team to replace Axar Patel for the last two T20Is in Lucknow and Ahmedabad on December 19. The updated squad features captain Suryakumar Yadav, vice-captain Shubman Gill, and key players like Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah (who might not play), and Kuldeep Yadav. This change keeps the team’s all-rounder balance strong despite Axar being out.