IND vs NZ 2nd T20: Here's why vice-captain Axar Patel is not playing today
Indian skipper confirmed Axar's omission for the second match at the toss, along with announcing Kuldeep Yadav as his replacement
The Indian cricket team have suffered a huge setback ahead of the second T20I match against New Zealand today in Raipur, as their T20I vice-captain Axar Patel has been ruled out of the second match due to injury.
Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav, after winning the toss, opted to bowl first and announced the changes in the playing 11. He mentioned that Axar Patel is missing tonight’s game due to the injury he suffered during the first T20I match in Nagpur. Kuldeep Yadav has been named as Axar’s replacement in the playing 11. Check India vs New Zealand 2nd T20I live match updates and score here
Notably, India have also decided to rest Jasprit Bumrah for the match. Harshit Rana has been named as Bumrah’s replacement.
India’s full squad for the second T20I against New Zealand
India playing 11: Sanju Samson (w), Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy
How Axar Patel got injured?
India all-rounder and vice-captain Axar Patel suffered a finger injury during the first T20I against New Zealand in Nagpur on Wednesday, forcing him to leave the field midway through the second innings. The incident occurred on the third ball of the 16th over when Daryl Mitchell drove a delivery firmly towards long-off. Axar attempted to stop the ball with an outstretched left hand, but it struck the edge of his fingers and deflected away.
The Indian team physio immediately attended to the vice-captain on the field, but Axar was unable to continue after his left-hand fingers started bleeding. He was eventually escorted off, with Abhishek Sharma stepping in to complete the remainder of his over.
Earlier in the match, Axar had a brief outing with the bat, scoring five runs off five deliveries. With the ball, he returned figures of one wicket in 3.3 overs, conceding 42 runs while trying to contain New Zealand during the chase.
Despite Axar’s injury, India managed to beat New Zealand by 48 runs in the match to take a 1-0 lead in the series.