The decision sparked criticism from fans and cricket experts, with many questioning the team management’s strategy. However, the Indian camp maintained that the move was purely tactical. Speaking about the situation, Suryakumar admitted that the call did not go down well with the experienced all-rounder.
“He was very angry, and he should have been. He’s an experienced player, he leads a franchise. He should be angry. I apologised. I told him I made a mistake and I’m sorry, but it was a call taken for the team,” Suryakumar told The Indian Express.
The India skipper also acknowledged that the conversation with Axar was not easy.
“It was a hard conversation. He took it in his stride and we talked it through the next day,” he added.
Despite the disappointment of the heavy defeat against South Africa, Suryakumar believes that the match became a crucial turning point in India’s campaign.
“India vs South Africa was the eye-opener. I never had any doubt in this team, but it tightened our screws. After that there was no option of coming back,” he said.
Following the setback, the team adopted a knockout-style mindset for the remainder of the tournament.
“For us, Zimbabwe was a pre-quarter-final. West Indies was the quarter-final. Then the semis and the final. We had to play every game like a knockout,” Suryakumar explained.
India responded strongly after the defeat, winning their remaining Super 8 matches before beating England national cricket team in the semi-final and overcoming New Zealand national cricket team in the final to secure the championship.
In a recent interview following India's historic 2026 T20 World Cup triumph, captain Suryakumar Yadav admitted that vice-captain Axar Patel was "very angry" after being left out of the playing XI during the tournament.
The omission occurred during the crucial Super 8 clash against South Africa in Ahmedabad on February 22.
Key Details of the Incident:
The Admission: Suryakumar admitted to The Indian Express that dropping Axar was a mistake.
He stated, "He was very angry, and he should have been. He's an experienced player... I apologised. I told him I made a mistake and I'm sorry." The "Turning Point": Despite the tension, the captain cited that defeat as the "eye-opener" that tightened the team's resolve.
India treated every subsequent match as a knockout. Axar's Response: After the heated moment, Axar returned for the next game against Zimbabwe.
He ended the tournament with 11 wickets and played a massive role in the final against New Zealand, taking 3 for 27 to help India secure their record third T20 World Cup title.
India's 2026 Campaign Highlights
| Stage | Result | Key Note |
| Super 8 vs SA | Lost by 76 runs | Only defeat of the tournament; Axar dropped. |
| Semi-Final vs ENG | Won by 7 runs | Axar took two crucial catches to shift momentum. |
| Final vs NZ | Won by 96 runs | India becomes first team to win back-to-back titles. |
It’s quite a turnaround from the 2023 ODI World Cup heartbreak in the same stadium! This win solidified India as the first team to successfully defend a T20 World Cup title.
Would you like me to look up the final player rankings or the full scorecard from that final against New Zealand?
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