Abu Dhabi, Sep 20: India’s preparations for the high-voltage Super Four match against Pakistan have hit a major potential snag, as all-rounder Axar Patel remains doubtful due to a head injury sustained during the group-stage clash against Oman.

The incident occurred in the 15th over of Oman’s chase, when Axar attempted a catch at mid-off. He juggled the ball, lost his balance, and struck his head against the turf. Patel was seen clutching his head in pain and was immediately escorted off the field by team physios. He did not return for the remainder of the match.

India’s fielding coach T. Dilip later stated that Axar “appears to be fine,” but his availability for the upcoming clash against Pakistan remains uncertain, given the short recovery window.

Before the injury, Axar had made a valuable contribution with the bat, scoring 26 runs off 13 balls, and bowled one economical over, conceding just four runs.

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His absence could impact India’s team balance, especially in the spin department, where he complements Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy.

India is set to face Pakistan on Sunday in Dubai, in what promises to be a high-voltage encounter.

The team management is closely monitoring Axar’s condition and may consider backup options like Washington Sundar or Riyan Parag, who are part of the standby list.

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