T20 World Cup 2026: ‘You have to make a choice’ – Sanjay Bangar on probable changes in India’s playing 11 for Super 8 clash vs South Africa

Sanjay Bangar opined that India might have to consider making two changes to their side for the clash against South Africa in the Super 8 clash at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday, February 22.

The former India all-rounder noted that the Gautam Gambhir-led team management would have to make a call on picking either Washington Sundar or Axar Patel as the spin-bowling all-rounder. Axar, the vice-captain of the Indian team, played the first three games in the group stage before making way for Sundar in the fourth.

Bangar believes that Axar should be brought back into the playing XI in place of Sundar for the highly-anticipated clash between last edition’s finalists.

“He is in my playing XI for sure because he is a high-quality player. He has performed on most occasions. Even in the game against Pakistan, he picked up those crucial wickets. He is an underrated cricketer,” the former India all-rounder reasoned while speaking on Star Sports after being asked whether Axar should come back into the side.

“He can bat at important positions, fields well as well, and is more suitable to the T20 format, if you compare Washington Sundar’s batting versus Axar Patel’s batting at this stage. India may be tempted to play Washington Sundar, but Axar Patel necessarily takes the ball away from the left-handers as well. So you have to make a choice,” he added.

“I think the more difficult decision would be whether to play Kuldeep or that extra seamer” – Sanjay Bangar

Bangar also mentioned that India would have to decide whether to bring back Kuldeep Yadav and bolster the spin-bowling department or continue with two pacers in Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh.

“I think the more difficult decision would be whether to play Kuldeep or that extra seamer, and that is a call that the team management may have to make taking into account the pitch conditions right before the start of the match,” he said.

Bangar added that he would prefer to play Kuldeep alongside Varun Chakaravarthy if the pitch is dry. He also wants to see Axar as the third spinner in the XI. The former India batting coach mentioned that South Africa will have an advantage if Chakaravarthy plays as the lone specialist spinner.

“India have historically had a fabulous record when the spinners have been on song. If the pitch is slightly on a drier side, I would be tempted to go with Kuldeep and Varun. Kuldeep can spin the ball away from the left-handers. That means you do not have to actually have an off-spinner in your mix,” Bangar observed.