Axar Patel, right, during a net session at the Narendra Modi Stadium, in Ahmedabad. (PTI Photo)

NEW DELHI: India’s decision to leave out vice-captain Axar Patel triggered a major selection controversy after a crushing 76-run defeat to South Africa exposed the gamble in their Super 8 clash of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. Assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate admitted the management had spent days debating the combination before opting for Washington Sundar instead — a call that backfired badly as India collapsed to 111 in pursuit of 188.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!The loss marked India’s biggest defeat in T20 World Cup history and ended their remarkable 18-match unbeaten run across ICC white-ball events. But the spotlight quickly shifted from the result to the explosive team selection, with Axar’s omission raising serious questions.

Breaking his silence, ten Doeschate revealed just how agonising the decision had been.“Yeah, we spent so much time deliberating about the XI, the last couple of days,” he said. “And I guess the only way that it sort of didn’t play into our hands is if we did have the ideal start like we did today with getting Quinton and Rickelton out so early.”He explained that the call was driven purely by tactical considerations, not a reflection of Axar’s value.“We were kind of looking at matchups more in the middle. And then obviously, someone has to give way. So, do we leave a batter out and get another bowler in? In hindsight, that looks like the right decision. But playing it forward and making decisions at the time, we felt we needed Rinku as an eighth batsman, so to speak. And the decision was based around there.”

India ultimately chose Sundar for his powerplay bowling ability and batting flexibility, even though Axar is widely regarded as one of the side’s most dependable all-rounders.“Certainly, it’s not to take anything away from Axar and his leadership and how important he is to the team,” ten Doeschate stressed. “We face it almost every week, trying to squeeze 11 places into 15. We’re finding it tricky, and we need to make sure we get that spot on for the next two games.”He also dismissed concerns over Sundar’s limited IPL opportunities.“I don’t think that’s necessarily relevant. We know what Washi’s done while he’s been with India, and we judge him on that,” he said. “A big part of the strategy today was how well he bowled in the power play. Winning that power play was going to be super important.”The assistant coach admitted the plan was built around countering South Africa’s left-hand heavy middle order.“Given the fact that we thought the majority of the threat was going to come from the left-handers, and we wanted to play the extra batter, it left us with one choice between Washington and Axar, and today we chose to go with Washi.”He acknowledged the optics looked worse because Sundar didn’t bowl in the powerplay as intended.“He obviously didn’t bowl in the power play tonight, so it looks like we’ve purely gone on who’s going to bowl through the middle, in which case you would choose Axar. But the strategy was around that.”Despite the backlash, ten Doeschate expressed hope Axar would understand the decision.“In a tournament like this, you expect all players to understand that the best intentions are trying to pick the best 11 to win the game, and I hope Axar takes it in the same spirit.”

NEW DELHI: The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has taken strong action against former women’s team selector Monjurul Islam after serious misconduct allegations were raised by former women’s captain Jahanara Alam. Following an investigation, the board has banned Monjurul from any cricket-related role under the BCB, either directly or indirectly. The inquiry committee looked into four allegations linked to an incident during the 2022 Women’s World Cup.

While two claims could not be proven due to lack of evidence, the panel found initial proof of inappropriate behaviour in the other two cases and said his conduct fell under harassment and misconduct rules.The BCB confirmed the decision in a statement, saying, “Based on the findings of the Independent Inquiry Committee formed by the BCB to examine the complaint lodged by former Bangladesh Women’s National Team Captain Jahanara Alam, the Board has decided to impose a ban on former national cricketer Monjurul Islam from all forms of direct or indirect employment and/or cricket-related activities under the jurisdiction of the Bangladesh Cricket Board.” The board added that it is still reviewing the committee’s recommendations and may take further steps, stating, “The BCB is reviewing the recommendations of the Committee and will take any additional measures deemed necessary in light of the report.”Monjurul had already completed his contract with the BCB in June 2025, but the board said his behaviour did not meet professional standards.In the same meeting, the BCB announced the schedule for the first-ever Women’s Bangladesh Premier League, which will be played from April 4 to 14, 2026, in Dhaka and Chattogram. The board also gave a one-month extension to chief selector Gazi Ashraf Hossain while they search for his replacement. Explaining this, the BCB said, “In view of his intention to step down at the end of his tenure as Chairman National Selection Panel, the Board has decided to offer a one-month extension to Gazi Ashraf Hossain. During this period, the Board will work on finding his successor and reorganisation of the panel.”

NEW DELHI: As the IPL 2026 season approaches, the big question around MS Dhoni’s future has come up once again: will the Chennai Super Kings legend play every match this season? Dhoni, who will turn 45 later this year, is set to be available for CSK, but it looks unlikely that he will feature in all games.

A top CSK source confirmed his availability. “We can confirm this much that he is coming to Chennai and had confirmed his availability for the season,” the source told PTI. However, the same source added, “Whether he will play all games or not is something we can’t say at the moment.”With the arrival of Sanju Samson, CSK now have multiple wicketkeeping options, which could reduce Dhoni’s workload. Samson is expected to keep wickets in matches where Dhoni sits out, while other keepers like Urvil Patel and young recruit Kartik Sharma are also in the squad.In recent seasons, Dhoni’s role with the bat has been limited due to the Impact Player rule, and he has mostly played as a finisher in specific situations. Managing his fitness will also be important, as he has dealt with knee and back issues in recent years, and the physical demands of wicketkeeping can be tough with packed schedules.However, Dhoni is likely to play most of CSK’s home matches at Chepauk, where his presence still excites fans like no other. His bond with the Chennai crowd remains strong, and every time he walks onto the field, it sends the stadium into a frenzy.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi meets Bihar CM Nitish Kumar

NEW DELHI: Fourteen-year-old cricket sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was honoured by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for his outstanding performance in the U-19 World Cup. The young star met the Chief Minister, Deputy CM Samrat Chaudhary and Sports Minister Shreyasi Singh at the CM’s residence and received a reward of Rs 50 lakh as a special gesture for his achievements.

Recently, the BCCI announced a reward of Rs 7.50 crore for the Indian Under-19 cricket team after they lifted the U19 World Cup 2026 title by defeating England in the final.Sooryavanshi played a huge role in India’s U-19 World Cup triumph, especially in the final against England, where he smashed a brilliant 175 runs off just 80 balls. His innings included 15 fours and six sixes, and he reached his century in only 55 balls, one of the fastest in U-19 World Cup history. He was named Player of the Match in the final and also Player of the Tournament after scoring 439 runs in seven matches with a high strike rate. The left-handed opener has already made history at a very young age. He is the youngest player to debut in the IPL and the youngest to score a century in the league. He also became the youngest T20 centurion and the fastest Indian to reach an IPL fifty. Rajasthan Royals signed him for Rs 1.1 crore at the IPL auction, making him the youngest IPL player ever. Vaibhav has been breaking records across formats, including scoring fast centuries in youth Tests, domestic tournaments and List A cricket. He is already India’s leading run-scorer in U-19 ODIs with over 1,400 runs and multiple centuries. Known for his aggressive batting, Sooryavanshi continues to grab headlines with his fearless style, and he is expected to be a key player for Rajasthan Royals in the upcoming IPL season.

Sanjay Manjrekar has raised concerns over the batting approach of India captain Suryakumar Yadav during the ongoing ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.Manjrekar praised Suryakumar’s 84-run innings against the United States in Mumbai, where he adjusted his tempo and finished strongly. However, he said the India captain has continued with a cautious approach in later matches, which has limited the roles of Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube and Rinku Singh in the closing overs.“There is something that I am seeing in Suryakumar Yadav which I’m not liking too much. 77-6, India against USA, at the Wankhede, and Suryakumar Yadav had to change his game, which he did brilliantly. Just slowed down a little bit, and then exploded, and got a great score, player of the match, and everything,” Manjrekar said on his Instagram page.

He added that Suryakumar may have taken that approach too far after that game, including during the match against Pakistan. According to him, both Suryakumar and Tilak Varma have been batting conservatively, which has reduced the impact of finishers.“Since then, I think he is taking that a bit too far. Against Pakistan, where India lost a couple of wickets, he really pulled down the shutters quite a lot. He and Tilak Varma are both playing slightly conservatively, and in the end, what happens is that people like Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, and Rinku Singh are not really tapped into resources as much,” he continued.Manjrekar also said such an approach can be risky in T20 cricket if a senior player or captain feels the need to stay till the end, especially while batting first or chasing big totals. He said no top-order batter should try to control the innings in that way.“In T20 cricket, that is a dangerous thing to do, where a senior player or captain feels like he has got to stay in, especially while batting first. When you are setting targets of 200 plus, if you have somebody in the top four who believes that he is the guy who has got to control the innings and make sure he is the one who will take India to a certain score, that is a very dangerous tactic. No batter must think like that. So, Surya must be careful about that,” Manjrekar concluded.Suryakumar has scored 164 runs in the tournament so far, second only to Ishan Kishan among India’s batters. His strike rate of 136.13 is well below Kishan’s 202.29.India will play South Africa in their first Super 8 match in Ahmedabad on Sunday. India topped Group A with eight points after winning all their group-stage matches.

NEW DELHI: India A Women delivered a commanding all-round performance to defeat Bangladesh by 46 runs in the final and win the ACC Women’s Asia Cup Rising Stars title on Sunday. Batting first, India A posted a competitive total of 134/7 in 20 overs, thanks largely to a composed unbeaten half-century from Tejal Hasabnis and a valuable contribution from captain Radha Yadav.Openers Nandini Kashyap and Vrinda Dinesh provided a steady start but failed to convert it into big scores, while Anushka Sharma and Minnu Mani were dismissed cheaply, leaving India in a tricky position. Tejal Hasabnis then anchored the innings with a fluent 51 off 34 balls, striking three boundaries and two sixes. Radha Yadav supported her with a crucial 36 off 30 balls, helping India cross the 130-run mark. For Bangladesh, captain Fahima Khatun led the bowling effort with impressive figures of 4/25, while Farjana Easmin and Fatema Jahan Sonia chipped in with a wicket each.In reply, Bangladesh’s chase never gained momentum. Opener Ishma Tanjim was dismissed early, and although Shamima Sultana, Sarmin Sultana, Sadia Akter and Fahima Khatun tried to steady the innings with small partnerships, they struggled against India’s disciplined bowling attack. Bangladesh were eventually bowled out for 88 in 19.1 overs.India’s bowlers shared the spoils, with Prema Rawat leading the attack with 3/12, while Sonia Mendhiya and Tanuja Kanwer claimed two wickets each. Saima Thakor, Minnu Mani and Radha Yadav also contributed with a wicket apiece.Tejal Hasabnis was named Player of the Match for her match-winning unbeaten half-century, capping off a dominant performance by India A Women in the tournament final.

West Indies head coach Daren Sammy on Sunday defended the tournament’s pre-seeding system, saying group placements may have motivated teams like Zimbabwe to raise their level and perform beyond expectations at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.Zimbabwe finished on top of Group B ahead of Sri Lanka, while former champions Australia were eliminated — an outcome that surprised many.Pre-seeding for the Super Eights has been widely discussed since the tournament reached the later stages, but Sammy said he understood the system, particularly from a logistical perspective.“If you take the logistics that comes into it, trying to give fans who probably travel, (it is) an opportunity to plan ahead,” Sammy told reporters ahead of West Indies’ Super Eights clash against Zimbabwe.“… The big thing for most people is (that) they would be saying ‘oh! West Indies came out of the group’ (or) ‘oh! Zimbabwe came out of the group’ — that means somebody they see (coming out from) there did not come out.”He said group composition itself can become a motivating factor.“Zimbabwe did what they had to do. If we were not seeded or so, and I saw this person (an opponent) is going to play there, that gives me motivation.“I’m pretty sure Zimbabwe, looking at that group there, gave them motivation and inspiration to come out and play the way they played. But I do understand from the logistics standpoint, trying to give the fans the surety.”Sammy added that his team does not focus on how opponents are grouped.“You seldom get top teams in the same round. My team knows they have to play (in) a World Cup. We’ve got Zimbabwe tomorrow, (then) we’ve got South Africa and then India ,” he said.“We’ve got (the two) finalists of the last World Cup. If you’re going to win, you’ve got to play what’s in front of you. Not take it for granted, not take anybody lightly. If you start to bring in other factors, it takes you off-track,” he said.When asked about facing a team not widely expected to progress this far, Sammy questioned the assumption.“Who said Zimbabwe is not supposed to be here?”“A lot of people say West Indies is not supposed to be here either. When you’re in a World Cup, you’ve got to respect every opposition.“That’s what we’ve been doing; that’s what I encourage my guys to do. Respect the opposition, but believe in yourself, believe in your processes and your execution. Tomorrow, we approach it the same way we would approach a game against India or Australia or whoever,” Sammy said.The two-time T20 World Cup-winning captain also said the format narrows the gap between teams.“Like us, they (Zimbabwe) are very confident, they are playing some good cricket. T20 is a format that brings teams closer together. There’s no clear-cut winner. These guys have played well. Zimbabwe, missing out on the last World Cup, they (are) led well. Sikandar Raza is very confident. He leads by example.“They’ve got six fans in the stands that sounds like one million. There are a lot of things that (are) going for them. I could understand from that standpoint, where nobody gives you a chance (and) how you could use that as inspiration,” Sammy added.

Axar Patel (right) sits out IND vs SA T20 World Cup Super 8 match (ANI Photos)

India captain Suryakumar Yadav revealed that the team went with the same playing XI for the Super 8 game against South Africa on Sunday, which meant vice-captain Axar Patel was left out again, with Washington Sundar keeping his spot. After losing the toss, Surya admitted he wanted to bat first but accepted the toss result, calling Axar’s omission a tough call.

“I was actually looking to bat first, but it’s okay, and we’re happy to bowl first. It’s very harsh on Axar Patel, but we’re going with the same team – just a tactical decision, so no changes from the last game,” he said at the toss. The decision sparked strong reactions on social media, with many fans questioning Axar’s exclusion.“Can someone tell me, why Axar Patel is dropped with his OG T2OI performances?” One fan wrote on X.“I have another question, can somebody tell me why Washington Sundar is not bowling to David Miller, if he was selected over Axar with lefties excuse?Does anything make sense under Gambhir?”Similar sentiments among fans over the Axar Patel omission call followed.In the match, South Africa had a shaky start after opting to bat. Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh struck early, reducing them to 20/3 in just four overs. However, David Miller and Dewald Brevis staged a strong comeback, attacking India’s bowlers and shifting the momentum.Miller took on Varun Chakravarthy and Arshdeep Singh with powerful boundaries, while Brevis joined in with aggressive shots against Washington Sundar and others. The pair added quick runs and pushed the scoring rate up, helping South Africa recover to 84/3 at the halfway stage. Nevertheless, South Africa posted a strong total of 187/7 in their 20 overs after choosing to bat against India. After losing early wickets, Miller (63 off 35) and Brevis (45 off 29) led a crucial recovery, while Stubbs (44* off 24) provided a late surge. Bumrah was the standout bowler with 3/15, supported by Arshdeep’s 2/28, but India still face a challenging chase.

Suryakumar Yadav takes a breather after getting hit by a delivery from South Africa’s Lungi Ngidi during the T20 World Cup cricket match between India and South Africa in Ahmedabad, India, Sunday, Feb 22, 2026. (AP Photo)

TimesofIndia.com in Ahmedabad: The first game of their Super 8 campaign was a reality check for the Indian cricket team as they were completely outplayed by South Africa at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Chasing the 188-run target, the famed batting line-up never got going and succumbed to the big-game pressure in front of over 90,000 people. The run-chase lacked application, intent, and discipline. Whatever could go wrong, went wrong for Suryakumar Yadav & Co as they lost the fixture by a heavy 76-run margin.Questionable shot selection, a lack of partnerships, and some fine bowling by South Africa led to the hosts’ downfall, ending their unbeaten 12-match streak in T20I World Cups. For a side that had dominated the format since winning the title in the Caribbean in 2024, Sunday’s showing, particularly the batting, was nothing short of an embarrassment. The team, which effortlessly posted huge scores and breezed past massive totals, managed only 57 at the half-way mark of the run-chase and had half their side cooling their heels in the dugout.Concerning signs were apparent in the group stage too, but the bowlers continued to find a way and do the job. However, the cracks were completely exposed when they were asked to chase. The pressure of the big stage clearly overwhelmed the batting as Ishan Kishan, Abhishek Sharma and Tilak Varma played some very ordinary shots. Abhishek sighed with relief when he scored his first run of the tournament, courtesy of a boundary, but he never looked at ease during his stay in the middle. The left-hander looked very short on confidence, and so did India’s designated No.3 Tilak Varma.Tilak has been scrutinised for his poor strike rate, and while he has enjoyed the backing of the men who matter, his performances aren’t inspiring much confidence. India tried to shake things up by promoting Washington Sundar up the order but even that backfired, just like his overall selection for this game ahead of the experienced Axar Patel. India’s vice-captain was on the bench for the second match in a row, and his absence was dearly felt with both bat and ball.Shivam Dube fought a lone battle to get the side’s total closer to the target and minimise net run-rate damage but writing was clearly on the wall, leaving only mere formalities before South Africa sealed the comprehensive win. Marco Jansen & Co. combined to completely dominate the hosts and their smart use of the pitch, and conditions, helped them make a statement.

Bumrah and the rest

Earlier, Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh combined to keep the Proteas under the 200-run mark. The innings can be divided into three phases. India dominated the powerplay, taking three wickets. South Africa rebuilt with David Miller and Dewald Brevis, but India seized control again between overs 16 and 19. In four overs, the Aiden Markram-led unit scored 23 runs and lost three wickets, undoing the middle-phase efforts of Miller and Brevis. They also lost the same number of wickets in the powerplay but had a plan for the spin threat that was coming their way. The left-right combination targeted Varun Chakravarthy and never allowed India’s X-factor to settle down on a pitch that offered little for spin. The first two overs of the World No.1 T20I bowler leaked 28 runs and Miller looked dangerous in front of the capacity crowd. From the moment he walked out to bat in the fourth over, the left-hander operated with calculated intent. He hit the ball where it was meant to be hit and didn’t retreat after the early wickets. The presence of a busy Brevis at the other end gave the innings the much-needed impetus, and the two put on a breezy 97-run stand off just 50 deliveries.When they were batting, a total of 200+ seemed very achievable, but India did well to pull things back in the final phase. Bumrah was in the mood today and at his menacing best in both the powerplay and the death overs. His last two overs conceded only 8 runs and another wicket added to his match tally made him India’s most successful bowler in T20I World Cup history. Arshdeep sustained pressure from the other end with just a 7-run 18th over but the 20th over, bowled by Hardik, swayed momentum in South Africa’s favour. Tristian Stubbs hit back to back sixes off the final two deliveries to end the innings emphatically at 187/7. T20I cricket is all about riding the momentum when it is on your side. South Africa did that with the bat in the final over and then the bowlers later rode on it to outplay India in their first Super 8 clash.Brief Scores:South Africa: 187 for 7 in 20 overs (David Miller 63, Dewald Brevis 45, Tristan Stubbs 44; Jasprit Bumrah 3/15, Arshdeep Singh 2/28).India: 111 all out in 18.5 overs (Shivam Dube 42; Marco Jansen 4/22, Keshav Maharaj 3/24, Corbin Bosch 2/12).

Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)

DUBAI: Stan Wawrinka returns to a place of cherished memories this week, back at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis where he lifted the trophy in 2016. Now 40 and competing in the final season of a storied career that once saw him rise to a career-high No. 3 in the world, the Swiss great is embracing one last chapter on the Tour.

Excerpts:Stanimal captured the physical power of your game, do you think the mental strength behind your success was sometimes overlooked?That’s the beauty of tennis, it has many parts to it. It’s a big puzzle. You need to put every piece of the puzzle in its place — fitness, tennis, mentally, and also you need to be in the right place. It took a lot of hard work, a lot of energy to push and find myself as a player. It was important for me to work on myself, my mindset, and how I was going to go in with confidence, ready to beat the best players in the world. It took me years to achieve that. I’m really happy with what I’ve done. Was it tougher to break through in the Federer-Nadal-Djokovic era than it is today in the Alcaraz-Sinner duopoly?Those five players you mentioned, and also Andy Murray are the best players we saw in the game. It has been amazing for me to face them, to be able to play against the Big Four for more than 15 years. It was a challenge. But first I’m a fan of tennis, I’m passionate about the game. I always enjoyed watching them, as a tennis fan and player. It was an opportunity for me to play the best players in the game. Right now we are seeing that the level of Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz has been amazingly high. What they’ve been doing already for a few years, winning all the Grand Slams between them, is amazing to watch. Which of your three Grand Slam titles gave you the most satisfaction?It’s tough to choose, but it’s also my job to answer the question. If I have to pick one title… (exhales) they have all been really special, but one is the French Open (2015). I grew up playing on clay, I practised a lot in Spain, also coming from the French part of Switzerland, Roland Garros was the one that we watched the most as kids. That’s also the one I won as a junior (2003). To beat Novak in the final there was really special. Was retirement a sudden decision, or something that had been building in the months before your announcement?The last few years, I’ve been asking myself when to stop but I never had an answer. At the end of last year, I finally had the answer. I realised that I was most at peace to play for one more year, to push one last time. I’m still passionate about the game, I wish I could play forever, but nobody can play forever. I also wanted to finish my 20-plus year career on a good note. So I’m happy that my level is still there and physically I’m feeling good. You appear leaner now than at your peak? I always try to push myself to be the best player I can to be. You have to do that to be able to stay in the game for 20 years. It was challenging, fitness wise, especially with the injuries. I have always been trying to optimise, to do what’s best for me, what’s best for my body so that I could push my own limits. You were known for those statement shorts and now, in your final year, you’re making a statement with this 40-Love tee…Last year I turned 40, so Yonex did this for me as a present. The ‘Love’ stands for my love of the game, my passion.