Cricket fans, India are already through to the Super 8s and sitting comfortably at the top of Group A — so tonight’s match against the Netherlands at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad feels like the perfect moment to take a breath. Captain Suryakumar Yadav won the toss and chose to bat first on a flat, batting-friendly pitch, but the real talking point before the first ball was the team sheet.
Axar Patel is sitting out. If you’re wondering why Axar Patel is not playing vs Netherlands, the answer is simple: smart rotation and workload management ahead of the big knockout games.
India’s Two Changes Explained
India made two smart swaps for this dead-rubber. Washington Sundar comes in for Axar Patel, who gets a well-earned rest. Arshdeep Singh returns in place of Kuldeep Yadav.
Suryakumar Yadav explained the thinking clearly during the toss interview with Ravi Shastri:
“We are batting first. The surface looks good. We practiced here last night and saw a bit of dew, so we want to put runs on the board and put pressure on their bowlers. We play on a similar strip again in a few days, so this is a chance to test things. Two changes: Arshdeep comes in for Kuldeep, Axar is resting and Washington comes in.”
The message is clear — India are protecting their key all-rounder for tougher battles ahead.
Why Rest Axar Patel Makes Sense
Axar has been a quiet but vital part of India’s campaign. His left-arm spin controls the middle overs, and his calm batting adds balance lower down. With the Super 8s starting soon — and tough matches against South Africa, West Indies and Zimbabwe waiting — the team management wants him fresh.
Washington Sundar gets a chance to show his off-spin and handy batting on a pitch that could slow down later.
Quick Look at India’s Playing XI vs Netherlands
Ishan Kishan (wk), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, Washington Sundar, Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh.
What This Means for India’s Super 8 Preparation
India have won all three group matches and are leading Group A with confidence. Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav are in top form. Resting Axar now keeps him ready for the real pressure games.
Abhishek Sharma, meanwhile, still needs a big score after his recent ducks — tonight could be his chance to find rhythm on this batting-friendly track.
The IND vs NED match is live now. India want to stay unbeaten heading into Super 8s. Can Washington make an impact? Drop your thoughts below — let’s chat while we follow the action! 🏏🔥
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