Axar Patel continued to prove why he is so special, grabbing a crucial wicket to push India back into the game of the fourth T20I match against England at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune. In pursuit of 182, the visitors got off to a thrilling start, which was mainly down to Phil Salt, who found his range finally after two somewhat disappointing games him.

Salt, known for his aggressive stroke play, was looking ominous in touch as he unleashed his power-hitting against the Indian bowlers. Just when England was racing ahead, Axar Patel struck with a delivery that completely outfoxed the opener. In only his second over, the left-arm spinner produced an absolute peach, skidding an arm ball in sharply.

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Phil Salt tried to cut from the stump line, underestimating the pace and trajectory. The ball zoomed past his bat and crashed into the middle stump, sending the in-form batter back to the pavilion.

 

Salt was visibly upset by his dismissal, aware that he had been gifted a life just a couple of balls earlier. His aggressive approach had initially paid off, but against Axar’s accuracy and clever variation, his resistance was short-lived. With this breakthrough, India suddenly clawed their way back into the game having removed both England openers in quick succession.

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Axar’s celebration was one of pure passion, knowing the importance of the wicket. His dismissal of Salt not only broke England’s momentum but also injected fresh energy into the Indian side, setting the stage for a fiercely contested match. As the game progressed, India looked to capitalize on the shift in momentum and tighten their grip on the contest.