Axar Patel showcased his exceptional athleticism and fitness with a stunning catch to dismiss Barry McCarthy during the Group A match between India and Ireland in the Men’s T20 World Cup 2024. The game took place on Wednesday at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York, where Axar’s performance stood out.
In his first over, Axar Pate made an immediate impact with the ball. Gareth Delany nudged the ball to backward square leg, giving the strike to McCarthy. On the second ball of the over, Axar bowled a delivery that induced a false stroke from McCarthy, who had yet to score after facing six balls.
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Axar Patel bowled a delivery that angled into McCarthy, who closed the face of the bat too early, resulting in a leading edge. Displaying remarkable reflexes and agility, Axar dived full stretch to his right to take a spectacular catch. This effort helped India bowl Ireland out for 96 runs in 16 overs, with Axar bowling just one over.
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This wicket also marked a significant milestone for Axar, as he reached 50 wickets in T20 Internationals, becoming the ninth Indian bowler to achieve this feat. He joins an elite list that includes Yuzvendra Chahal, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, Ravi Ashwin, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, and Ravindra Jadeja.
Before the start of the T20 World Cup, Axar moved up to No. 3 in the ICC rankings for bowlers, with 660 points, trailing only England’s Adil Rashid and Sri Lanka’s Wanindu Hasaranga.
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In addition to his bowling prowess, Axar is also expected to contribute significantly with the bat. He has amassed 2,780 runs from 248 matches at an average of 22.97 and a strike rate of 134.36, including seven half-centuries. For India, his strike rate of 144.40 highlights his ability to play aggressively even in international cricket.
