Axar Patel has been ruled out of the remaining two T20Is against South Africa due to illness, with Shahbaz Ahmed named as his replacement in the Indian squad.
The BCCI confirmed that Axar is currently with the team in Lucknow, where he will undergo further medical assessment. He had already missed the third T20I in Dharamsala, where India replaced him and Jasprit Bumrah with Kuldeep Yadav and Harshit Rana before securing a seven-wicket victory.
Axar endured mixed returns in the series. He impressed in Cuttack with 23 runs and figures of 2 for 7 but struggled in New Chandigarh, scoring 21 after being promoted to No. 3 and returning 1 for 27 with the ball.
Shahbaz last represented India at the 2023 Asian Games final against Afghanistan in Hangzhou. While his recent Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy form for Bengal was modest, 60 runs in five matches and four wickets, he adds spin-bowling depth ahead of the series finale.
India lead the five-match series 2-1, with the fourth T20I scheduled in Lucknow before the teams head to Ahmedabad for the final match.
India’s updated squad for last two T20Is:
Suryakumar Yadav (C), Shubman Gill (VC), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Jitesh Sharma (WK), Sanju Samson (WK), Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Washington Sundar, Shahbaz Ahmed
