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In a pivotal moment during the T20 World Cup 2024 final against South Africa, the Indian Cricket Team encountered a daunting beginning as captain Rohit Sharma departed early, managing just 9 runs. The setback intensified with Rishabh Pant’s dismissal for a golden duck mere balls later. The challenge deepened further when Suryakumar Yadav, known for his audacious scoop shots, departed after scoring a mere three runs in the Barbados encounter.
Rohit Sharma and Rahul Dravid’s strategic promotion of Axar Patel proved pivotal in India’s T20 World Cup 2024 victory.
Following a tumultuous start that saw the Indian Cricket Team reeling at 34/3 in the T20 World Cup 2024 final against South Africa, captain Rohit Sharma and coach Rahul Dravid made a bold decision. They chose to promote Axar Patel to number five in the batting order, ahead of stalwarts like Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, and Ravindra Jadeja.
Axar Patel seized the moment with aplomb, stepping into the breach with a gutsy 47 off 31 deliveries. His innings, embellished with four towering sixes and a boundary, was crucial in stabilizing India’s innings. Partnering with Virat Kohli, who scored a resilient 76, Axar added 72 runs for the fourth wicket, steering India out of trouble and setting the stage for a competitive total against South Africa.
Shivam Dube’s brisk cameo of 27 runs off 16 balls further propelled India to 176/7, setting up a gripping finale. In a nail-biting climax, Indian bowlers including Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, and Hardik Pandya defended the total fiercely, clinching a memorable seven-run victory over South Africa. This triumph marked India’s first T20 World Cup title in 17 years.
Reflecting on his pivotal role, Axar Patel credited conversations with Rohit Sharma and invaluable advice from Rahul Dravid and Hardik Pandya for boosting his confidence during a critical phase of the match. Despite not having prior insights into the pitch conditions, Axar became one of the heroes of India’s victorious campaign in the T20 World Cup 2024. He recalled how Dravid and Rohit urged him to be prepared to bat as soon as Rishabh Pant departed, anticipating the need for immediate consolidation.
Axar Patel unveiled Rohit Sharma and Rahul Dravid’s instructions along with Hardik Pandya’s crucial advice during the T20 World Cup 2024 Final.
Axar Patel was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz: “Rohit bhai was standing beside me when Rishabh Pant got out. He told me, ‘Axar pads pehen le’. After that, Yuzvendra Chahal came running to tell me that Rahul (Dravid) Bhai wants me to pad up. When I was padding up, I did not know what to do. We were two wickets down, and I had still not analyzed the pitch.”
Axar Patel vividly remembered the rapid dismissal of Suryakumar Yadav, a moment so swift that it left him momentarily stunned. Recounting the crucial juncture, the all-rounder emphasized the supportive guidance he received from Hardik Pandya in Gujarati, urging him to maintain composure and concentrate on reading the ball as he prepared to enter the fray. Axar acknowledged that Pandya’s words resonated deeply with him, providing clarity and resolve during that pivotal descent to the middle.
Axar signed off by saying, “Next, I saw Suryakumar (Yadav) also get out. Things happened so suddenly that I did not have time to think. When I was going down the staircase, Hardik told me in Gujarati not to take any stress. ‘Just watch the ball and hit the ball,’ he said, and it stuck with me.”
