“If favouritism has a face! Clown Dravid” fans troll team management for ignoring Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi and Shreyas Iyer for the 1st T20I against South Africa.
On December 12, 2023, cricket enthusiasts worldwide eagerly awaited the showdown between India and South Africa in the 2nd T20 International at St. Georgeโs Park in Gqeberha. A strategic move by Aiden Markram, choosing to bowl after winning the toss, added intrigue to this highly anticipated match amid improved weather conditions following a rain interruption.
The cricket saga commenced with the first T20I in Durban being washed out by rain, intensifying the anticipation for a competitive showdown in subsequent matches.
India’s unexpected lineup changes kept fans on edge, notably excluding Ravi Bishnoi, the standout performer in the T20 series against Australia post-ODI World Cup 2023. Despite Bishnoi’s title as the number one-ranked T20 bowler, he was absent from the second T20I against South Africa. Axar Patel, a Man of the Match awardee in the final two T20Is against Australia, was also omitted, raising questions about the team management’s decision-making process.
Further fueling controversy, Shreyas Iyer, who delivered a commendable half-century in the final T20I against Australia, was surprisingly dropped from the playing XI. This unexpected decision stirred disconcert among fans, leading to widespread criticism of both the team management and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).