T20 World Cup 2024, Axar Patel disclosed his thoughts on beginning and finishing his first and last ball of the spell during the knockout stages. In the competition semifinal, India defeated England by 68 runs thanks to Axar’s all-around effort.
Axar Patel talked candidly about his thoughts at a major tournament’s knockout phase. The Indian spinner disclosed that he bowled with the intention of bowling a really good opening and last over. Axar was able to put his philosophy into practice when he dismissed Jonny Bairstow with the opening ball of his own. He took three wickets and was named Player of the Match in recognition of his all-around performance. India advanced to the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 final after defeating England by 68 runs. The men in blue made it to the T20 World Cup final, capping a ten-year drought.
The conditions were such that the ball spun swiftly and remained low, and the Indian spinners took full advantage of them. Given his first over during the powerplay, left-arm bowler Axar provided India with their most significant breakthrough when he tricked England captain Jos Buttler with his first ball on a reverse sweep. The England team was defeated by spin as Axar, who also took three vital wickets, found an adept companion in Kuldeep Yadav.
Against England, Axar works like magic.
Axar provided a glimpse into his state of mind during a high-profile bowling match such as this one.
“I wouldn’t get wickets off the first delivery. I was under the impression that I needed to situate it well. Your mindset when playing knockouts is to start and finish the first and last ball well. That was in my thoughts. Of course, it was a plus every time I performed well with the wicket. In the post-match press conference, Axar stated, “I think it was difficult to hit big shots and sweep and reverse sweep because if the ball was down on this wicket, you can’t connect it so easily.”
Axar shares his perspective.
Axar patel also talked candidly about getting Buttler, who was playing a reverse sweep, off his shoulder.
“Because batsmen are skeptical that I can hit the ball on the pad if I try to sweep and it’s low. Depending on the length of the queue you enter. Our spinners mostly maintained it stump to stump. Therefore, hitting sweep rewards on this wicket was really challenging.”
“And you have to hit the front as much as you can, but he didn’t get it that easily because, as we saw in the videos, his batsmen are a little bit on the back foot. Axar continued, “He needs to remove his leg, and you must get forward and play on this wicket.
Axar Patel divulges India’s strategy to England during the powerplay.
England was chasing 172 runs, and when Axar Patel took the ball in the fourth over, his skipper Rohit Sharma had already given him some advice.
The highest scorer for India, Sharma, had alerted him about the pitch’s low bounce and skidding, making long strokes difficult.
India’s competitive total gave Axar patel confidence, so he chose to do nothing spectacular and let the batters take chances instead. This tactic was effective when England skipper Jos Butter attempted a reverse sweep off Axar’s opening delivery, only to give wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant a catch instead.
After that, Axar patel removed Moeen Ali and Jonny Bairstow in consecutive overs, leaving England at 46 for 4. He was named Player of the Match for his phenomenal 3/23 stats.
On Sunday, June 29, India will play South Africa in the T20 World Cup 2024 final.
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