Yadav's Gamble Backfires as Patel's Promotion Fails, Coach Defends with "Ultra-Aggressive" Rationale
Cuttack, India - In a surprising move during the second T20I against South Africa, Suryakumar Yadav's decision to promote Axar Patel to No. 3 in the batting order spectacularly backfired, raising questions about the team's strategy and the captain's judgment. The move, intended to inject impetus into the innings, resulted in a paltry score, leaving the middle order exposed and ultimately contributing to India's defeat.
Axar Patel, primarily known for his left-arm orthodox spin and handy lower-order contributions, was thrust into an unfamiliar role usually reserved for a specialist batter. Patel's recent T20 performance includes a score of 23 runs off 21 balls in a December 2025 match against South Africa. He has 660 runs in his T20 career, averaging 20. The experiment lasted only a handful of deliveries, with Patel struggling to find his rhythm before succumbing to a mistimed shot. His dismissal triggered a collapse, and India struggled to recover, falling short of the target set by the Proteas.
The decision to elevate Patel, ahead of seasoned batsmen, drew immediate criticism from fans and experts alike. Many questioned the logic behind disrupting the established batting order, especially in a crucial match. Suryakumar Yadav, known for his innovative stroke play and aggressive approach, has been struggling with his form in T20Is in 2025, with only 100 runs in 12 matches. While he is known for aggressive batting, his recent scores have been underwhelming. He had a decent IPL season in 2025, scoring 717 runs. However, his recent Asia Cup performance was lackluster, scoring only 72 runs in six games.
Minutes after the game, head coach Gautam Gambhir defended the move with a rationale that has been described as "absurd" by critics. Gambhir stated that the team has committed to an "ultra-aggressive template" where failures are inevitable. "Honestly, Surya's batting form doesn't concern me because we have committed to an ultra-aggressive template in our dressing room. When you embrace this philosophy, failures are inevitable," Gambhir told reporters. He further added that the focus isn't on individual runs but on the brand of cricket the team wants to play.
Gambhir's comments have sparked debate about the balance between aggressive intent and strategic planning. While a fearless approach is often lauded in T20 cricket, critics argue that promoting a lower-order batsman to No. 3 without a clear plan was reckless. Some experts believe that Gambhir's "batting orders are overrated" approach might disrupt the harmony within the Indian batting order.
The coach also emphasized the depth of India's batting lineup and said that when Suryakumar finds his rhythm, he will shoulder the responsibility accordingly. Gambhir highlighted Suryakumar's leadership qualities and said that good humans make good leaders.
The defeat has put India under pressure in the series, and the team will need to reassess its strategies ahead of the next game. Whether the "ultra-aggressive" approach will continue or a more measured strategy will be adopted remains to be seen. However, one thing is clear: the experiment with Axar Patel at No. 3 was a failure, and the coach's justification has only added fuel to the fire.
Former South Africa skipper AB de Villiers weighed in on Gambhir's remark, agreeing to a certain extent but cautioning against playing around too much with the players' roles. He suggested flexibility through left-right combinations and specific game situations.
