"It seemed like he was being treated unfairly every time" - Aakash Chopra on Axar Patel being made vice-captain for IND vs ENG 2025 T20Is

Aakash Chopra has noted that Axar Patel was seemingly treated unfairly since India's 2024 T20 World Cup triumph. However, the former India batter opined that the all-rounder's appointment as the Men in Blue's vice-captain for the upcoming T20I series against England might force the think tank to use him more effectively.

India will face England in a five-match T20I series, with the first game to be played in Kolkata on January 22. The selectors recently announced the hosts' 15-member squad for the series, with Axar named as Suryakumar Yadav's deputy.

In a video shared on his YouTube channel 'Aakash Chopra', the former India opener pointed out that the selectors' move might force the team management to utilize Axar better.

"Axar Patel has been appointed the vice-captain. He is given very few chances. It seemed like he was being treated unfairly every time. So the selection committee said this time that they would make him the vice-captain. He will have to be played now and made to bowl his entire quota of overs," he said (0:40).

Chopra added that Axar can now ask Suryakumar Kumar to give him more overs.

"Axar Patel had a huge role in winning the World Cup, including the final. However, he is either not given a bowl or not made to bat. It was beyond my understanding why Axar Patel wasn't being treated properly. Now he can discuss with Surya and ask him to let him bowl three to four overs," he observed.

Axar bowled only eight overs in four T20Is in India's tour of South Africa last year. The left-arm spinner picked up three wickets at an average of 15.00 and an economy rate of 5.62.

---

"Axar Patel will be seen playing and one more spinner will play with him, that will be Varun Chakaravarthy" - Aakash Chopra

Varun Chakaravarthy picked up 12 wickets at an average of 11.50 in the four T20Is against South Africa. [P/C: Getty]

In the same video, Aakash Chopra opined that Varun Chakaravarthy will likely be the only other spinner in India's playing XI.

"Axar Patel will be seen playing and one more spinner will play with him, that will be Varun Chakaravarthy at this point in time. Your XI will be something like this - Abhishek Sharma with Sanju Samson, Tilak Varma at No. 3, Suryakumar Yadav at No. 4, Nitish Kumar Reddy at No. 5, Rinku Singh at No. 6 and Hardik Pandya at No. 7," he said (13:15).

The cricketer-turned-commentator added that it might not be possible to accommodate a third spinner in the XI.

"You could shuffle the batting order a little bit and you will see Axar Patel at No. 8. Only three places are left after that. That will be Varun Chakaravarthy, Mohammed Shami and Arshdeep Singh. So two of your spinners are never going to play. You won't play three spinners," Chopra observed.

Chopra opined that a third opener could have been picked in the squad instead of a spinner. Ravi Bishnoi and Washington Sundar are the other two spinners in India's 15-member squad.