Cricket

Virat Kohli's Match-Winning Knock Overshadows Axar Patel's Crucial Contribution in India's T20 World Cup TriumphAs India emerged victorious in the T20 World Cup 2024, defeating South Africa in a thrilling final, the spotlight shone brightly on Virat Kohli, who was awarded the Player of the Match for his pivotal 59-ball 76. However, former India opener Wasim Jaffer believes that Kohli's performance, while undoubtedly significant, was not the most impactful in securing India's victory.Jaffer, who played as an opening batter for India, contends that Axar Patel played an even more crucial role in India's triumph. "Virat Kohli hadn't scored many runs in the tournament, but he chose the right moment to come good," Jaffer acknowledged on his YouTube channel. "His knock of 76 made a lot of difference and kept one end intact."However, Jaffer emphasizes that Patel's contribution was paramount. "The most important part I thought was played by Axar Patel," he asserted. "The cameo that he played ensured that the run rate from India never dropped below eight runs per over. He took the attack to the South African bowlers and didn't let them settle, forming a crucial partnership with Kohli."Patel's aggressive batting, Jaffer argues, prevented South Africa from gaining control of the match. "He took the pressure off Kohli and allowed him to play his natural game," Jaffer explained. "Without Patel's contribution, India would have struggled to reach a defendable total."While acknowledging Kohli's match-winning knock, Jaffer believes that Patel's performance was equally, if not more, deserving of the Player of the Match award. "Both Kohli and Patel played crucial roles in India's victory," Jaffer concluded. "But for me, Patel's contribution was slightly more significant."

Axar Patel's unfortunate run-out in the 2024 T20 World Cup Final against South Africa left India reeling at 106/4. Sent in to bat at a precarious 34/3, Patel played a crucial role in stabilizing India's innings, scoring a brisk 47 off just 31 deliveries.Patel's innings was a blend of power and finesse, featuring four towering sixes and a solitary boundary. His quickfire knock eased the pressure on Virat Kohli, who played an anchor role at the other end. Patel's dismissal, however, came at a crucial juncture, leaving India in a precarious position.The run-out occurred when a delivery from Kagiso Rabada deflected off Kohli's thigh pad towards the leg-side. Patel, assuming a run was on, set off for the crease but was caught short by a direct hit from South Africa wicket-keeper Quinton de Kock.India captain Rohit Sharma expressed his disappointment at the soft nature of Patel's dismissal, which he described as "unacceptable." Patel's departure left a significant void in India's batting lineup, as he had been instrumental in building a solid foundation for the team.Despite Patel's untimely exit, Kohli continued to anchor India's innings, reaching his fifty in 48 balls. However, the Proteas bowlers kept the pressure on, and India found themselves chasing a challenging target of 180 runs.The 2024 T20 World Cup Final was a highly anticipated clash between two evenly matched teams. India, seeking their second T20 World Cup title, faced off against an upbeat South Africa side eager to claim their maiden title. The match promised to be a thrilling spectacle, with both teams determined to etch their names in cricket history.

India's captain, Rohit Sharma, has praised the exceptional performance of his spin duo, Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel, in their semi-final victory over England in the ongoing T20 World Cup.After England's Jos Buttler had aggressively hit Arshdeep Singh for three boundaries in the third over, Axar Patel turned the tide with his first delivery. Patel dismissed Buttler by spinning the ball away from his usual skidding style, forcing the English skipper to attempt a reverse sweep that resulted in a catch for Rishabh Pant.Patel continued to trouble the English batters, while Kuldeep Yadav joined the fray to further increase their woes. Patel's influential spell of 3/23 included the removal of the opening order, while Kuldeep provided excellent support with figures of 3/19, effectively neutralizing England's middle order.Rohit Sharma lauded the left-arm spin duo, revealing their strategy to counter England's aggressive approach. "They (Axar and Kuldeep) are gun spinners. When the conditions like that are in front of them, it's difficult to play some shots. The pressure is on them as well to come and execute those balls, but they were calm and knew what to bowl. We had a little chat after the first innings - try and hit the stumps as much as possible, keep the stumps in play," Rohit said in the post-match presentation.The spinners played a crucial role in England's downfall, with Jasprit Bumrah adding the finishing touches. England, aiming to replicate their 2022 World Cup semi-final triumph, fell short and saw their title defense crumble.The challenging nature of the pitch, with some deliveries staying low and others taking flight, further hindered England's chase of 172. Rohit Sharma emphasized the importance of adapting to the conditions, which paved the way for India's first appearance in the final in ten years."Very satisfying to win this game. We worked really hard as a unit. To win this game like that was a great effort from everybody. We adapted to the conditions really well. The conditions were a little challenging, we had to adapt, and that's been the success story for us so far till this game. The bowlers and the batters, if they play according to the conditions, things fall in place, and that's exactly what happened for us today," Rohit said.After losing Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant early in their innings, India relied on Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav to build a competitive total. The duo's 73-run partnership took India to a respectable 171/7."Very pleasing to see how we came through this game. At one stage, we were feeling 140-150, and as the game went on, we got some runs in the middle, me and Surya. We got that partnership. I can set the target in my mind, but I don't want to let anyone know about it, to the batters ... because ... they are instinctive players, and I want them to go out there and play freely without thinking too much about what's the par score. We bat well, we understand the condition well, we will get to a good score, and that's exactly what happened. We got to 170, which I thought was a very good score on that pitch, and then the bowlers were fantastic," he added.England's failure to comprehend the pitch's nature led to their eventual collapse, with the team managing only 103 runs in 16.4 overs. The T20 World Cup final is now set to be a thrilling clash between the unbeaten sides, India and South Africa, in Barbados on Saturday.

Axar Patel's masterful bowling performance in the fourth over of England's chase of 172 proved pivotal in India's victory in the semi-final of the T20 World Cup. Patel's captain, Rohit Sharma, had informed him of the pitch's low and skidding nature, making big shots difficult.Patel's plan was to keep things simple and force the batters to take risks. His first delivery, a reverse sweep attempt by England captain Jos Buttler, resulted in a wicket. Patel then dismissed Jonny Bairstow and Moeen Ali in quick succession, leaving England reeling at 46 for 4.Patel's strategy was based on the difficulty of batting on the pitch. He knew that the batters would try to attack him early on, so he opted for accuracy and consistency. His first delivery to Buttler was not particularly quick, but it was accurate and skidded on with low bounce, knocking over the off stump.Patel's third wicket came after he had conceded just 11 runs in his first two overs. Moeen Ali attempted to clip a delivery off his pads but only deflected it towards wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant, who whipped off the bails.Patel's performance was a testament to his skill and adaptability. He recognized the conditions and adjusted his bowling accordingly, forcing the England batters to make mistakes. His 3 for 23 earned him the Player-of-the-Match award.

India's captain, Rohit Sharma, has praised his team's composure under pressure after their emphatic 68-run victory over England in the T20 World Cup 2024 semi-final. This victory marks India's third consecutive ICC final across formats, and they will now face South Africa on Saturday in an attempt to end their 11-year trophy drought at a world event."We've been very calm as a team," Rohit said after the match. "We understand the occasion, but for us, it's important to keep calm and composed. That helps us make good decisions. We need to make good decisions through the 40 overs. In this game too, we were steady and calm, and didn't panic too much. That has been the key for us. Yes, we do understand the occasion is important, but we need to play good cricket as well."Rohit described the semi-final win over England as "very satisfying," especially given that it was a repeat of the T20 World Cup 2022 semi-final. In that match, India suffered a humiliating ten-wicket defeat as Jos Buttler and Alex Hales chased down England's target of 169 with ease.This time, however, it was India's spinners who turned the tables on England on a slow, low turner. Rohit set the tone with a well-paced 57 off 39 balls, helping India post a competitive total of 171 for 7."Yeah, it's very satisfying to win this game," Rohit said. "We've worked really hard to come to this stage, and to win the game like that was a great effort from everyone. I thought we played to the conditions really well; that's been the success story for us so far. If bowlers and batters understand and play according to the conditions, things fall in place. It's very pleasing how we came through."Rohit was particularly impressed with the performance of India's spinners, who applied relentless pressure on England's batsmen. Axar Patel started England's slide by dismissing Buttler off his very first delivery, and then had Jonny Bairstow with an arm-ball in his second. He finished with 3 for 23 off his four overs to walk away with the Player-of-the-Match award.Axar was complemented by Kuldeep Yadav, who also was magnificent. His dismissal of Harry Brook after being reverse swept was particularly noteworthy because of the subtle change in his line of attack. Kuldeep, like Axar, also picked up three wickets."They are gun spinners," Rohit said. "When conditions are like that in front of them, it's very difficult to play some shots. Yes, the pressure is on them to execute those balls, but they were very calm and knew what to bowl. We had a chat after the first innings: the plan was to hit the stumps as much as possible and keep the stumps in play, [and] that's what they did."Amid the cheer, Rohit also backed Virat Kohli to come out of his string of low scores in this T20 World Cup. Kohli was dismissed for 9 on Thursday as he was clean bowled by Reece Topley looking to slog one over the leg-side boundary. Kohli has so far aggregated 75 runs in seven innings at a strike rate of 100 this World Cup."Look, he's a quality player, and you can go through that," Rohit said. "We understand his class and importance in big games. Form is never a player when you've played for 15 years. He's looking good, the intent is there, [and] probably he's saving himself for the final."

In a thrilling Super 8 clash at the 2024 T20 World Cup, Indian all-rounder Axar Patel etched his name in the annals of cricket history with an extraordinary catch to dismiss Australian skipper Mitchell Marsh.After Marsh had survived a couple of earlier dropped catches, Axar produced a moment of brilliance on the final ball of the ninth over. Kuldeep Yadav's length ball was slog swept by Marsh, sending it hurtling towards the deep backward square-leg fence.As the ball approached, Axar, despite being a left-handed fielder, instinctively raised his right hand and timed his jump to perfection. The ball, traveling at a rapid pace, stuck in his grasp, sending shockwaves through the Australian camp.The catch not only ended Marsh's dangerous 37-run knock but also broke the 81-run partnership between him and opener Travis Head. It was a pivotal moment in the match, as Australia were chasing a formidable target of 206 set by India.Earlier, Rohit Sharma had played a blistering innings of 92 off 41 balls, propelling India to a commanding total. On a batting-friendly surface, Rohit unleashed his full repertoire of shots, hitting seven fours and eight sixes, including a record-extending 200th six in the T20 format.Axar's catch and Rohit's innings were the highlights of a memorable match that showcased the skill and excitement of the T20 World Cup.

Suryakumar Yadav, the world's top-ranked T20I batter, has once again proven his mettle, guiding India to a comfortable 47-run victory over Afghanistan in their first Super 8 match of the 2024 T20 World Cup. Yadav's second consecutive half-century, a 28-ball 53, played a pivotal role in India's triumph.Post-match, Yadav and Axar Patel engaged in a playful banter, revealing an amusing exchange between Yadav and Virat Kohli during India's batting innings. Axar inquired about Kohli's advice to Yadav during a drinks break in the 10th over, as Yadav had immediately begun slog-sweeping after the break.Yadav explained his strategy, saying, "160 was a par score on this wicket. I thought if I started with a few boundaries and got the momentum going after the break, it would help the next batters."Axar jokingly accused Yadav of "bluffing" Kohli, but Yadav countered, "No, I didn't bluff! I was just being myself."Yadav's adaptability and ability to play in different modes were evident in his match-winning performance. After scoring a 49-ball 50 against USA, Yadav maintained a strike rate of over 180 on a challenging Barbados pitch.Yadav's flamboyant knock, along with contributions from Rishabh Pant and Hardik Pandya, propelled India to 180 in 20 overs. Afghanistan's chase proved futile, as Jasprit Bumrah continued his stellar performance, claiming three wickets for seven runs in his four overs.India will face Bangladesh in their next Super 8 match on Saturday, June 22, at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua.

India's Bowling Prowess Shines in T20 World Cup VictoryIndia's comprehensive 47-run victory over Afghanistan in their Super 8 opener of the T20 World Cup showcased the depth and quality of their bowling attack. Left-arm spinner Axar Patel hailed Jasprit Bumrah as a "world-class bowler" and emphasized the confidence within the team in their bowlers' ability to handle pressure situations.Patel highlighted Bumrah's exceptional skills and the overall strength of the Indian bowling lineup. "With the quality of bowlers we have on our side, we can get out of a tough situation," he said.Patel also praised the hands-off approach of bowling coach Paras Mhambrey, who trusts Bumrah's judgment and encourages him to execute his game plan without interference. "He has an idea of what to do and what not to do," Patel said of Bumrah. "The bowling coach doesn't interfere much. He says that whatever your mindset is, it is clear, so just execute your plans."India's bowling unit has been a crucial part of their success in the tournament so far. They have displayed tactical adaptability and the ability to adapt to different conditions.In their next Super 8 match, India will face Bangladesh on Saturday. The match will be a test of their bowling strength against a team that has shown resilience and determination in the tournament.

Axar Patel's unsung heroics played a pivotal role in India's victory over Pakistan in the ongoing T20 World Cup. The allrounder's versatility and adaptability proved invaluable for the team.Patel's batting depth allowed India to promote him up the order to face the moving ball and protect more experienced batters. His crucial 20 runs off 18 balls in a partnership with Rishabh Pant helped stabilize the innings.Moreover, Patel's bowling flexibility was evident in the 16th over, where he effectively shut down a left-hand batter with the shorter leg-side boundary and favorable wind. His ability to bowl to both left- and right-hand batters gives India a tactical advantage.Patel's selection in the squad and starting XI was unconventional, as India typically opts for an offspinner instead of two left-arm spinners. However, the team's decision to field both Patel and Ravindra Jadeja has paid off, especially considering the limited number of left-hand batters faced so far.Despite Patel's impressive performances, the absence of Kuldeep Yadav, India's only left-arm wristspinner, has raised questions. Bowling coach Paras Mhambrey explained that Yadav's exclusion is not a reflection of his skills but rather a matter of team balance.The seam-friendly pitches in New York have necessitated the inclusion of three seamers, while the abundance of right-hand batters has reduced the need for a left-arm wristspinner. However, Mhambrey acknowledged that Yadav may be called upon later in the tournament, especially if India faces more left-hand batters or needs additional penetration in the spin department.The choice between Patel and Jadeja remains a difficult one. Patel's versatility as a T20 batter gives him an edge, but Jadeja's vast experience and proven match-winning abilities cannot be overlooked.