‘Axar patel hona asan nahi’- Twitter in awe of Axar Patel after his sensational all-round performance against Sri Lanka
India and Sri Lanka locked horns against each other at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune for the second 20-20 game. The Men in Blue won the toss and chose to bowl first. The Indian bowling was pear-shaped, especially Arshadeep Singh, who was smashed for 37 runs in his two overs. Shivam Mavi went for 53 runs off his four overs.
The bright spot for India was Axar Patel who starred with the ball as he picked up 2-24 in his four overs. He picked up Pathum Nissaka who was looking dangerous as he made a stroke-filled 33 off 35 balls with four fours.
While batting in the second innings, When India slumped to 57-5 because of a top-order collapse. Axar came in and forged a much-needed partnership with Suryakumar Yadav. He made a counter-attacking 65 off 31 balls with three fours and six sixes. This gave India a sniff at the mammoth total that Sri Lanka had put up. Axar smashed the bowlers with disdain and put Sri Lanka’s bowler’s under pressure but in the end the Lankan’s came back well.
Axar has come leaps and bounds with his batting and he is proving to be a great lower-order option for India as he adds depth and gives a valuable left-handed option. He has been fulfilling Ravindra Jadeja’s role across formats. He has also added new dimensions to his bowling by adding flight to his deliveries in addition to his deadly non-turning ball.
Jadeja has been out of the India side with a knee injury. It remains to be seen when he will make a comeback into the Indian side. As of now, Axar is filling in the big shoes of Jadeja with game-changing contributions with both bat and ball. He is also repaying the faith shown by the Indian Team management.
He has scored 267 runs in 39 T20s. He has picked up 36 wickets with the ball. He has made full use of the limited opportunities that he has had in T20Is. His performances have given the selectors and management a headache. He has made his own in the shortest format and also been an asset to India in Test Cricket.
Twitter was abuzz, let us take a look at the reactions here:
https://twitter.com/mrethanblake/status/1611229324379815936?s=20&t=Bt39MTJvUNJeIKEZ3z0d4w
Fearless #axarpatel scored maiden T20i fifty in just 20 balls and with ball 2/24runs what a fantastic knock under pressure India lost the match but he won every #cricketlover #hearts
— Mahadev Verma (@Mahadevverma_) January 6, 2023
Axar patel is perfect Replacement for Jadeja
— Ritheesh (@itz_ritheesh) January 6, 2023
One of my biggest regret in Cricket is to not get to watch @IrfanPathan invest in his natural batting talents and power.
Axar Patel Batting looks so so so much like him. Would love it for him to put time into it and maybe turn in to a higher order batsman someday
— Adeel (@Fruno_Bernandez) January 6, 2023
axar patel hona asan nahi .gajab jigra dikhaya.
— Shambhu mishra 🔺 (@RakeshShambhu) January 6, 2023
All-rounder Axar Patel has broken the record for registering the highest T201 score by an Indian batting at number seven. He scored 65(31) in India's second T201 against Sri Lanka. The previous record was set by all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, who scored 44*(23) against Australia. pic.twitter.com/H7wz0DqcJY
— Syed Faiz Abbas (@Faizabdii) January 6, 2023
Highest T20I partnership by Indians for 6th or lower wicket:
91 – Axar Patel & Suryakumar Yadav v SL, 2023
70 – Virat Kohli & Hardik Pandya v ENG, 2021
68* – Deepak Hooda & Axar Patel v SL, 20232 of the top-3 are in first two matches of this series.#SLvIND
— Kausthub Gudipati (@kaustats) January 5, 2023
Axar Patel the batter performing is a huge bonus for the Indian T20 side #INDvSL
— S.Badrinath (@s_badrinath) January 5, 2023
20 ball fifty for Axar Patel, what a fantastic knock under pressure in the run chase. pic.twitter.com/bLMdeZyKdc
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) January 5, 2023
Axar Patel is enhancing his reputation with every match. All-round, was the best player on the park today. 2-24 in a 206 game, then 65(31) is as good as it can be.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) January 5, 2023