India, Dec. 12 -- India T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav struggled to defend the decision of sending all-rounder Axar Patel at No.3 in the second T20I against South Africa at Mullanpur in New Chandigarh. To be fair to Surya, anyone would. Every team experiments before a big tournament like the World Cup but there is a clear thought process and logic behind it. Unfortunately, in India's case, that seems to have taken a back seat.

When they lost vice-captain Shubman Gill in the very first over of the 214-run chase - Gill was out for a golden duck - in walked Axar Patel at No.3. There was Suryakumar Yadav, one of the world's most destructive T20I batters despite his recent form and India's Mr consistent in T20Is, Tilak Varma. If they wanted an...