There is palpable joy for Axar Patel after India’s win in the historic T20 World Cup in 2024. This all-rounder was an important contributor to the first ICC title in more than ten years, as his gritty knock provided some spark against South Africa in the final when India really needed it. This victory is all the more sweet for Axar, as it came right after his injury that kept him out of contention for the ODI World Cup in 2023.
The Indian team received a hero’s welcome on its return from Barbados. A sea of humanity thronged the streets of Mumbai for an open-bus parade and was followed up by a celebratory ceremony at a packed Wankhede Stadium. For Axar, this World Cup win has been a chance to get over the heartbreak of last year.
“Of course, missing the ODI World Cup through injury was a huge blow,” Axar Patel admitted in an interview with The Times of India. “But I dealt with injuries before, and that experience gave me strength. Of course, it was a very tough period, but training and rehab were focusing on how my life was going to be at that time. My goal was just to be fully fit when the opportunity arose, and winning an ICC trophy for India was always a dream.”
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In fact, the surprise did not end here for Axar as he reached home; rather, another such heartwarming surprise was waiting for him. His wife, Meha, had prepared a lovely rangoli with the picture of the cricketer kissing the World Cup trophy. It turned out to be an overwhelming moment for the cricketer.
“Meha doesn’t make rangolis every day, so I had no idea about this surprise,” Axar Patel revealed. “She just mentioned she was preparing something for an activity. It took her two days to complete that rangoli. It’s a price-less gift because it captured one of the most special moments of my life, and it came from the love of my life.”
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The 30-year-old showed great appreciation for the unwavering support from Meha throughout his cricketing journey. “These little gestures matter the most,” he insisted. “After your parents, there is no one as important to the player as the life partner. Meha has contributed a lot to my success. Many times, I would come home and tell her that I’m not going to use the phone for a while so that I could focus on my cricket. She never grudged me for anything. She’s been extremely supportive about whatever I needed to do to become a better player. I am very lucky to have her in my life.”
The story of Axar Patel is an epitome of perseverance, power of love, and support. He now sets his eyes on the forthcoming tour to Sri Lanka, where he will turn out to be an important player in both the T20I and ODI teams. With this kind of talent and dedication, it is sure that fans will continue to get to see him as one of the key players of Team India.
