Fondly called ‘Bapu’ by his teammates, Axar Patel will be expected to guide the team to victories through his wicket-taking abilities and run down the order

The ICC T20 World Cup is quickly approaching, and all the players in the Indian national camp are excited to kick off the campaign with the first match scheduled against the United States of America. The Men in Blue have no dearth of stars, and in this article, we give a shoutout to Axar Patel, an all-rounder who is fondly called ‘Bapu’ by his teammates and will be expected to guide the team to victories through his wicket-taking abilities and runs down the order.

Patel’s IPL exploits

(Credit- ESPNcricinfo)

In the Indian Premier League (IPL), Axar Patel has played 162 matches to date, scoring 1,916 runs at an average of 22.02 and a strike rate of 133.99. His highest run in an innings so far stands at 66, and he has three half-centuries to his name. Given he comes down the lower order, Patel rarely gets to play too many balls but is known for his finishing capabilities that have saved teams on multiple occasions.

With the ball, Patel has 128 wickets in 162 matches at an average economy of 7.35 with a best figure of 4/21. Bapu also has one four-wicket haul in the IPL.

Patel on the global stage

 

(Credit- Cricketnmore)

On the international platform, Patel has played 87 T20 matches with 686 runs under his belt at an average of 19.60 and a strike rate of 134.77. Once again, these numbers look poor, but Patel rarely gets the chance to play a big innings. However, with the ball, Patel has 87 wickets in 86 matches with a best figure of 3/9 and an average economy of 7.32.

Decent in the Asia Cup

Last year, Axar Patel was part of India’s Asia Cup squad that lifted the trophy. His campaign could be called decent at best, as he settled with six wickets in seven matches while registering an economy of 6.90.

Last World Cup

In 2024, Axar Patel was also part of India’s World Cup-winning team. In that edition, Patel had registered a decent performance with the ball, scalping six wickets in seven games.

Axar Patel has once again come to India’s rescue, and in the upcoming tournament, he has the potential to change the tide in India’s favour. We certainly hope he lives up to the expectation and delivers when it matters the most.