Former Indian Test opener Sadagopan Ramesh lashed out at the team management for dropping Axar Patel for the Super 8 clash against South Africa at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad on Sunday. India suffered a big loss of 76 runs against the Proteas as they were bowled out for 111 in the run-chase of 188.

Ramesh expressed his surprise after Washington Sundar was once again backed ahead of Axar Patel in the playing XI. The move didn’t pay dividends as Sundar returned with figures of 0-17 in two overs he bowled whereas he scored a run-a-ball 11 despite receiving batting promotion.

Ramesh said on Instagram handle, “Axar is your key player and the vice captain. Just this World Cup itself, Axar has bowled very well. Yes, winning and losing is part and parcel of the game, and India made several mistakes on the field with the batting order, among other aspects. But this selection call is a basic error. It’s like writing 2+2 = 5 in an exam.”

“When Suryakumar Yadav struggled with the bat for more than a year, you backed him because he was the captain. You kept Shubman Gill in the squad even when he failed across 20 innings because he was the vice captain. Likewise, Axar is your current vice captain, and if you drop him in an important World Cup match, how do you explain that?”

The former left-hander said Patel could have accounted for Dewald Brevis when the latter was going strongly with David Miller. South Africa was on the ropes at 20-3 but the duo added 97 runs off just 50 balls to put their team in the driver’s seat.

Ramesh concluded, “India may not have won the match even if Axar Patel played. But there is one place the scene may have changed. When Dewald Brevis targeted Varun Chakaravarthy and smashed him, having Axar Patel at the other end might have helped dismiss him and increase the pressure on David Miller.”

India will next take on Zimbabwe at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai, on Thursday.