Why Axar Patel Not Playing Today’s Match – India vs South Africa 3rd T20I?
Axar Patel is not playing the 3rd T20I vs South Africa as he is unwell, forcing India to make changes in Dharamshala.
India are without Axar Patel for the third T20I against South Africa at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamshala on December 14, with the five-match series tied at 1-1.
At the toss, India captain Suryakumar Yadav confirmed that Axar has missed out because he is not well. The team management has not flagged any injury, and his absence is understood to be precautionary.
India won the toss and chose to bowl first, keeping the pitch and expected dew in mind. Suryakumar said the wicket looks good and should stay the same through the night, making chasing a better option.
Axar’s absence has forced India to tweak their balance, especially in the all-rounder and spin department. He has been a key player in T20 cricket, offering control with the ball and depth with the bat.
India have brought in Kuldeep Yadav to strengthen the spin attack, while Harshit Rana replaces Jasprit Bumrah, who is also unavailable due to a personal reason. These changes show India’s intent to keep attacking options despite missing regular starters.
India’s playing XI for the third T20I is Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Jitesh Sharma (wicketkeeper), Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, and Varun Chakaravarthy.
Speaking at the toss, Suryakumar said the team wants to enjoy the contest and play fearless cricket. He added that every game in the series is important and the focus is on bouncing back strongly after the last defeat.
India had dominated the first T20I in Cuttack, winning by 101 runs, before South Africa hit back with a 51-run win in New Chandigarh. With the series level, today’s match carries extra pressure for both sides.
Axar’s absence also fits into India’s broader approach of managing player workload and fitness, especially with the T20 World Cup scheduled in 2026. The team is keen to ensure key players are fully fit for the bigger challenges ahead.
All matches in the series are starting at 7:00 PM IST, and Dharamshala’s conditions under lights often test both bowlers and batters. India will hope their revised combination can deliver despite missing Axar.
If Axar recovers well, he is expected to be back in contention for the remaining matches of the series.
