Axar Rajeshbhai Patel, also known as Akshar Patel, is an Indian international cricketer who has represented the country in all formats of the game. He was born on 20th January 1994 and currently plays for the Delhi Capitals in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Patel is a left-handed batter and slow left-arm orthodox bowler who is best known for his consistent wicket-taking ability in Test cricket. In this article, we will discuss Axar Patel’s cricketing career, focusing on his domestic, IPL, and international performances covered in ipl live news.
Domestic Career
In the 2012–13 season, Axar Patel made his first-class debut for Gujarat. He did, however, only participate in one game that year. In his second first-class match which is against Delhi in November 2013, Patel took 6 wickets for 55 in the first innings, registering his first five-wicket haul. He was one of Gujarat’s most reliable players in the 2013–14 Ranji Trophy, finishing with 369 runs at an average of 46.12 and 29 wickets at a strike rate of 23.58.
In early 2014, Patel was named the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Under-19 cricketer of the year for the 2012/13 season. With seven wickets, including a four-for against UAE in the semi-final, he also helped India Under-23s win the 2013 ACC Emerging Teams Cup.
IPL Career
Patel did not get a chance to play till the Mumbai Indians released him after he signed with the IPL team Mumbai Indians in 2013. He was signed by Kings XI Punjab in 2014, and he had a productive season with 17 wickets. In 2015, he played further down the order for the Kings XI Punjab, taking 13 wickets and scoring 206 runs.
On May 1, 2016, in a match against the Gujarat Lions, he took four wickets in five balls, including the 2016 IPL season first and only hat-trick, helping Kings XI Punjab defeat the Gujarat Lions by 23 runs who is leading league.
Axar Patel was acquired by the Delhi Capitals in the player auction for the 2019 Indian Premier League in December 2018. The Delhi Capitals decided to keep him on for the 2021 campaign as well.
International Career
On June 15, 2014, Axar Patel played his first ODI against Bangladesh. Patel was given a spot in the Indian ODI team for the trip of Bangladesh in recognition of his outstanding performance in the 2014 IPL. For his first run, he needed 1/59. Afterwards, he was chosen for the 15-man Indian team for the 2015 Cricket World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
On July 17, 2015, he played in his first Twenty20 international match for India against Zimbabwe. Yet it took him close to six years before he played his first Test for India. Patel was selected for the Test team of India in January 2021 for their series against England. Axar played his debut Test match against the England on February 13, 2021, which marked his return to international cricket after an almost three-year absence.
Joe Root becomes the first victim of Patel’s first international Test wicket. He became the ninth bowler from India to achieve this on debut while he got five wickets in the second innings of England in the same game. He made his international debut in the game he played of his first series in 2014.
Patel continued to impress in the domestic circuit and was a consistent performer for his state team. He also proved his worth in the Indian Premier League (IPL) playing for various franchises. In the 2015 IPL season, he was a key member of the Mumbai Indians team and played a vital role in their title-winning campaign. His performances earned him a call-up to the Indian squad for the 2016 Asia Cup T20 and ICC World T20.
He made his mark in the 2016 Asia Cup T20 by picking up four wickets in the final against Bangladesh and helped India clinch the title. In the World T20, he played a crucial role in India’s campaign by taking 5 wickets in 5 matches at an economy rate of 6.77. However, India failed to reach the final as they lost to eventual champions West Indies in the semi-final.
Patel’s all-around skills were on display in the 2016-17 season of the Ranji Trophy where he scored 582 runs and picked up 38 wickets in 8 matches. He also became the first Indian player to take a hat-trick in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, achieving the feat in the 2017-18 season.
His consistent performances in domestic cricket and limited-overs cricket earned him a spot in the Indian Test squad for the home series against England in 2021. He made his Test debut in the second match of the series and made an immediate impact by picking up a five-wicket haul in the first innings. He also scored 43 runs in the match, including a crucial 31 in the second innings, helping India to a crucial win. He continued his good form in the following Test and picked up another five-wicket haul.
Patel’s performance in the series against England earned him the Player of the Series award and established him as a key player in the Indian Test team. He was also included in India’s squad for the ICC World Test Championship final against New Zealand in June 2021.
In the final, Patel played a vital role with the ball, picking up 4 wickets in the first innings and 2 in the second. His performance helped India restrict New Zealand to a low total and set up a comfortable victory for the team.
Patel’s journey in international cricket has been nothing short of impressive. He has overcome several hurdles and established himself as a valuable asset to the Indian team. His ability to contribute with both bat and ball makes him a unique player and gives the team much-needed balance.
Conclusion
Indian cricketer Axar Patel is incredibly talented and skilful and has had a big impact on the game both domestically and internationally. He has proven that he can succeed in all game types, and he has been a tremendous asset to the Indian cricket team. Patel has constantly demonstrated a great work ethic, perseverance, and dedication to his trade throughout his career. To become one of India’s most dependable players, he overcame a number of obstacles, including injuries and competition for a spot on the national team.
Patel is anticipated to become an even more powerful force in the cricket world as he continues to hone his abilities and accumulate more experience. He has the ability to achieve great success and create a long legacy in Indian cricket thanks to his talent, drive, and love for the sport.
