Indian legend Sunil Gavaskar praised Axar Patel for his outstanding fielding effort against England in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup semifinal. Gavaskar noted that India had long relied on Ravindra Jadeja for moments of fielding brilliance, but Axar has stepped up impressively and is now filling that role with his sharp reflexes and athleticism.
The first moment of magic came early in the innings when Jasprit Bumrah deceived Harry Brook with a slower delivery. The England batter miscued his shot high over the covers, and Axar sprinted back before launching into a perfectly timed dive to complete a spectacular catch just inches above the turf.
Later, when Will Jacks looked set to push England closer to the target, another moment of brilliance unfolded at deep point. Chasing a sliced shot drifting away from him, Axar ran hard across the turf and grabbed the ball on the move. Losing his balance near the boundary rope, he cleverly tossed it back into play to Shivam Dube, who completed the catch to dismiss Jacks, sealing yet another crucial breakthrough for India.
“Axar Patel’s catch to dismiss Harry Brook was unbelievable. Brook can take the game away and you have to grab every chance to get his wicket and Axar did that. He ran 24 meters away from his fielding spot, kept his eyes on the ball, balanced himself, and took the catch. Unbelievable stuff. He also played a key role in Will Jacks’ dismissal. The Bethell-Jacks partnership was taking the game away. But Axar ran to his left, grabbed the ball, and smartly passed it to Shivam Dube,” Gavaskar said on JioHotstar.
Earlier in the match, Axar had already set the tone in the field by safely pouching Phil Salt at cover when Hardik Pandya struck with the new ball. The sharp catch highlighted Axar’s alertness and agility, adding another impressive moment to India’s strong fielding display against England.
“That shows great cricketing intelligence. At the highest level, temperament separates the greats from the good. With his batting and bowling, Axar is going to be one of India’s great players. We had Ravindra Jadeja before him and Axar is filling that void well. His bowling needs a little more polish. That will come with experience. His line, length, and speed are improving every year. The vice-captaincy means he is thinking about everyone’s game, not just his own. That is great for his growth,” said Gavaskar.
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