Axar Patel went on to claim three wickets in total, earning the Player of the Match title for his outstanding all-round performance in semifinal against England.
Axar Patel shared insights into his approach during the crucial knockout stage of a major tournament. The Indian spinner explained that his strategy was to excel in both the opening and closing overs. This mindset paid off immediately as he dismissed Jonny Bairstow with the very first ball of his over.
Also Read:- Axar Patel’s Spectacular Boundary Catch Highlights India’s Victory Over Australia in T20 World Cup
Axar went on to claim three wickets in total, earning the Player of the Match title for his outstanding all-round performance. India triumphed over England by 68 runs, securing a spot in the final of the ICC T20 World Cup 2024, ending a decade-long wait.
The pitch conditions, with sharp turn and low bounce, were expertly utilized by the Indian spinners. Axar was introduced into the attack during the powerplay and immediately made an impact by deceiving England captain Jos Buttler with a reverse-sweep, giving India a crucial breakthrough. England’s batsmen struggled against spin, with Kuldeep Yadav also taking three key wickets, partnering effectively with Axar.
Reflecting on his mindset during such a high-stakes match, Axar said:
“I didn’t aim to take wickets with the first ball. My focus was on delivering it in a good spot. In knockout matches, you aim to start and finish each over well. That was my mindset. Getting wickets was a bonus. It was challenging for batsmen to play big shots or sweeps and reverse sweeps on this wicket as the ball stayed low.”
Also Read:- Pat Cummins Makes History with Back-to-Back T20 World Cup Hat-Tricks
Axar Patel elaborated on dismissing Buttler:
“Batsmen hesitate to sweep if the ball stays low, fearing it might hit their pads. The key is to bowl stump to stump. Our spinners did that well, making it tough for the batsmen to connect their sweeps. To score front-foot shots, they needed to step forward, which wasn’t easy on this wicket.”
India is set to face South Africa in the T20 World Cup 2024 final on Saturday, June 29.