Former Indian wicket-keeper batter Parthiv Patel has backed the inclusion of Axar Patel and Sanju Samson in the Super 8 clash against Zimbabwe in the T20 World Cup. Patel, the team’s vice-captain, was surprisingly dropped in the matches against the Netherlands and South Africa as Washington Sundar was preferred ahead of him.

Patel had scalped three wickets in as many games in the group stage. On the other hand, India’s top three left-handers are struggling against off-spinners and thus Parthiv wants the team to include Sanju Samson to break the monotony. Samson is also not in the best of forms but Abhishek Sharma has managed only 15 runs in four games so far. 

“I would like to see Axar Patel coming back into the team,” Patel, a former India wicketkeeper-batter, said on JioHotstar. “He has played crucial knocks in the past. Yes, match-ups come into play, but I would definitely bring Axar Patel in. There is also the question of Sanju Samson. There could even be a homecoming for him in Chennai. It is something India would definitely be considering, especially given the glaring problem Indian left-handers are facing against off-spinners.”

Patel said if Sanju Samson doesn’t play, then Suryakumar Yadav should bat at one drop.

“Sanju Samson is not in great form either, but bringing in a right-hander could offer a different perspective. Or maybe India could just try changing the batting order. If Sanju Samson comes in, he should bat at number three. If he does not play, then Surya has to bat at three,” he said.

India will next take on Zimbabwe at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai, on Thursday.