Axar Patel has quietly become one of India’s most reliable cricketers in recent years, but his sudden removal as vice-captain of the T20I side has raised many eyebrows.
Former cricketer Mohammad Kaif voiced his concern and said Patel deserves clarity from the team management.
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Kaif hoped Patel was told about the change directly and not left to find out during a press conference.
Why did Axar Patel lose the vice-captaincy role?
Patel was earlier named deputy to skipper Suryakumar Yadav for the T20I series against England.
However, with Shubman Gill returning to the shortest format after a year, the team management reinstated him as vice-captain.
That decision meant Patel had to step aside, even after playing a crucial part in India’s recent successes.
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What did Mohammad Kaif say about this decision?
Kaif shared his opinion on social media, expressing that Patel should have been given a proper explanation.
He stressed that Patel had done nothing wrong to lose the responsibility and hoped the communication was clear.
According to Kaif, finding out about such a change through the media would have been unfair.
"I hope Axar Patel was informed about his removal from vice-captaincy in advance and he didn't come to know about it from the press conference. Axar did no wrong so he deserves an explanation," said Kaif.
I hope Axar Patel was informed about his removal from vice-captaincy in advance and he didn't come to know about it from the press conference. Axar did no wrong so he deserves an explanation. @akshar2026
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) August 19, 2025
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How important has Axar Patel been for India lately?
Patel’s contributions have been key across formats. In the 2024 T20 World Cup, he gave a match-winning performance of 23/3 against England in the semi-final.
He followed it with an imprtant knock of 47 runs in the final against South Africa and helped India lift the trophy.