Suryakumar Yadav says sorry to Axar Patel

The T20 World Cup 2026 winning captain of the Indian cricket team, Suryakumar Yadav, has highlighted that he apologised to the left-arm spin all-rounder, Axar Patel, after the latter was dropped from the Super 8 clash against South Africa at the iconic Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

Axar Patel was one of the biggest contributor for India winning the T20 World Cup 2024 and also made the difference with bat and ball whenever they required. Sky also recalled how he had a hard conversation with the all-rounder and spoken through it for the next day.

“He (Axar Patel) 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 for the team. It was a hard conversation. He took it in his stride and we talked it through the next day.” Suryakumar expressed in the ‘Indian Express’ interview.

Suryakumar Yadav says sorry to Axar Patel

During the final of the event against New Zealand in Ahmedabad, what has been the Gujarat spinner’s home base, Axar returned with a fine figures of 3/27 and become one of the players to win back-to-back T20 World Cups.

“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. 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 Yadav addressed.

“It is very difficult to describe just one. When we were on the podium and I was walking towards the ICC chairman to lift the trophy — I slapped my face, just to check if I was dreaming. Because we had all seen this dream together as a team. People were saying India don’t win in Ahmedabad — this after the 2023 final. But look at it now. We’ve won there, in that same stadium.” The Indian captain shed light.