Former India wicketkeeper-batter and commentator Saba Karim has praised Axar Patel for producing a match-winning all-round performance in India’s convincing victory over England in the first ODI at Edgbaston. Karim believes the left-arm spinner answered his critics in style after an underwhelming T20I series against the same opposition, in which he struggled to make an impact with either bat or ball. Axar played a pivotal role in India’s six-wicket win, first dismantling England’s batting lineup with figures of 4/62 in 9.5 overs before guiding the chase with an unbeaten 57 off 52 deliveries.
His composed knock, combined with Washington Sundar’s unbeaten 52, helped India recover from a tricky position and chase down 259 with 28 balls to spare, giving the visitors a 1-0 lead in the three-match ODI series. Speaking on JioHotstar after the match, Saba Karim highlighted Axar’s timely return to form and credited both all-rounders for delivering when India needed them the most.
“Axar Patel rediscovered his rhythm. Washington Sundar has always contributed whenever he has been given opportunities, but this innings came at exactly the right time for Axar. He wasn’t producing these kinds of performances during the T20I series, and this knock showed his quality under pressure,” Saba Karim said.
The former national selector was particularly impressed with Axar’s approach during the chase. Rather than forcing the pace immediately, the 31-year-old assessed the conditions before launching his counterattack.
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“What stood out was his maturity. He absorbed the pressure early, spent time at the crease, and allowed himself to settle. After facing around 10 deliveries, he shifted gears beautifully. Once he struck two boundaries in a spinner’s over, his confidence grew significantly, and from there he controlled the chase,” Saba Karim explained.
Axar’s unbeaten innings included five boundaries and a six, while his unbroken 102-run partnership with Washington Sundar completely turned the game in India’s favour. The duo displayed excellent game awareness, rotating the strike efficiently before capitalising on loose deliveries to deny England any opportunity of a comeback. Karim also pointed out that Axar’s excellent bowling spell appeared to boost his confidence while batting, something often seen with quality all-rounders.
“This is the advantage of being an all-rounder. When you perform well with the ball, it often carries into your batting. That confidence was visible in Axar’s innings. We expect this level of responsibility from a player of his experience. When he takes ownership in pressure situations like this, India become a much stronger side,” he added.
The former India cricketer further praised Axar’s batting technique, describing it as one of the reasons behind his growing consistency in white-ball cricket.
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“His batting setup is very simple and technically sound. He doesn’t have to overwork to score runs. He plays pace comfortably and, with his positive intent against spin, can be effective on any surface. That balance makes him a valuable middle-order batter,” Saba Karim observed.
Axar’s performance marked a remarkable turnaround after a forgettable T20I series against England, where he managed only 19 runs in five innings at an average of 3.80. With the ball, he claimed just two wickets while conceding runs at an economy rate of 11.14. His Player of the Match display in the ODI opener not only silenced doubts over his form but also reinforced his importance to India’s plans ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup.
