Former Indian cricketer Murali Kartik has made a strong statement regarding India's playing XI for their Super Eight clash against South Africa national cricket team in the T20 World Cup 2026. The high-voltage encounter is scheduled to take place in Ahmedabad on February 22.
Kartik emphasised that all-rounder Axar Patel must return to the side and predicted that he will have a vital role to play in the crucial fixture. Notably, Axar was rested for India's final group-stage match against the Netherlands national cricket team.
Reflecting on India's team combination, Kartik stated that the strategy of playing with eight batters to ensure batting depth has worked well so far in the tournament. However, he expressed concern over Abhishek Sharma's recent form and said that the Men in Blue would be hoping for a strong performance from him in the upcoming game. Kartik further added that Abhishek's contest against South Africa's premier pacer Kagiso Rabada could play a decisive role.
