Shahbaz Ahmed Called Up as India Adjusts Ahead of Crucial T20Is vs South Africa

All-rounder Shahbaz Ahmed has been added to India's T20 squad for the remaining matches against South Africa after Axar Patel was ruled out with illness, the BCCI confirmed on Monday.

The selection committee named Shahbaz Ahmed as Axar Patel's replacement for the fourth and fifth T20 Internationals, scheduled in Lucknow and Ahmedabad respectively, after Axar missed the third T20I in Dharamsala and remained under medical assessment with the Indian team in Lucknow[4][1].

Shahbaz, 31, brings left-arm spin and lower-order batting to the squad; he has previously represented India in limited-overs cricket, most recently at the Asian Games in October 2023, and has played five international matches for the national side prior to this call-up[1].

The decision comes amid other availability concerns for India: pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah missed the third T20I for personal reasons and his participation in the remaining games was described as uncertain by team management[1][2][4].

India lead the five-match series 2-1 after a comprehensive bowling display in Dharamsala, where seamers and spinners bowled South Africa out for 117 and India chased the target comfortably to secure a 2-1 lead in the series[4].

With the T20 World Cup approaching, the inclusion of Shahbaz Ahmed is likely aimed at shoring up spin-bowling depth and providing an additional batting option in the middle order; reports note the move could also open up opportunities for wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav to get an extended run depending on combination and conditions[2][3].

India's updated squad for the last two T20Is now lists Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Shubman Gill (vice-captain), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Verma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Sanju Samson (wk), Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakravarthy, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Washington Sundar and Shahbaz Ahmed[1][4].

Selectors and team management will assess Shahbaz medically and with practice sessions ahead of the Lucknow fixture, while monitoring the recovery and availability of Axar Patel and Jasprit Bumrah for selection decisions in the final match in Ahmedabad[1][4][7].

Reaction from analysts and media outlets framed the change as a pragmatic depth move rather than a major tactical overhaul, given India’s dominant bowling performance in the third T20I and the team’s need to finalise combinations ahead of upcoming global tournaments[2][3][6].

Further updates on playing XIs and final team sheets for the Lucknow and Ahmedabad T20Is are expected from the BCCI and team management closer to match days.