MUMBAI: Wankhede Stadium’s North Stand gave Axar Patel a rousing ovation as he settled into his fielding position at long-off. The applause was well-deserved. Within a span of about 40 minutes, Axar had produced game-changing fielding efforts that will be etched in Indian cricket folklore, much like Kapil Dev’s catch in the 1983 World Cup final and Suryakumar Yadav’s effort in the 2024 T20 World Cup summit clash.The 32-year-old had already taken one catch to dismiss Phil Salt when he produced the moment that lifted the team’s spirits and energised the crowd. It began with Jasprit Bumrah deceiving Harry Brook with a slower delivery with the first ball of his spell. The England captain skied the ball, which looked set to land safely in the deep cover region. Stationed inside the ring, Axar believed he could reach it. Sprinting back with his eyes fixed on the ball, he judged the trajectory perfectly and flung himself forward to complete a superb diving catch inches above the ground.
The second effort came in the 14th over and swung the match decisively in India’s favour. Jacob Bethell and Will Jacks had stitched together a threatening 77-run stand off 39 balls for the fifth wicket.Jacks sliced a full toss from Arshdeep Singh towards deep point, and once again the ball hung in the air. Axar, patrolling the boundary, sprinted across, held his balance and, just as he seemed to lose control, lobbed the ball to Shivam Dube before crossing the boundary, reducing England to 172/5.In between those efforts, Axar also used his guile with the ball, slowing the pace to dismiss Tom Banton, who had been scoring at a strike rate of over 350. He could have taken another blinder at long-off to dismiss Bethell as he neared his century, but the chance slipped and went over the boundary.India’s fielding had been a concern in the T20 World Cup, with 13 dropped catches before the semifinal. But led by Axar, the team produced a sharp display in the field, holding on to every chance — a positive sign heading into Sunday’s final against New Zealand in Ahmedabad.Asked which of the two catches he cherished more, Axar responded with humour, saying the “ball had decided to chase me”. He added that Brook’s catch was difficult but Jacks’s dismissal was more crucial as it broke a dangerous partnership.Axar may not carry the aura of some of his teammates and has occasionally been overlooked. He had to hand over the T20 vice-captaincy to Shubman Gill during the 2025 Asia Cup and was benched for two matches in this tournament at his home venue, the Narendra Modi Stadium, against the Netherlands and South Africa.Yet Surya’s deputy has always been a team man. He spent those games in the dugout carrying drinks, cheering his teammates and waiting patiently for his chance — something he has done throughout his career. Axar has taken eight wickets with his leftarm spin in six matches at an economy rate of 8.09, the second-best among Indian bowlers after Bumrah’s 6.62.The Gujarat allrounder has also had to wait to play an ICC tournament on home soil, having missed the 2023 World Cup due to injury. With Axar now certain to feature in Sunday’s final, he is eager to play in front of his home crowd — with his son watching him live “for the first time”.“I think that’s why I didn’t play those two matches (as I had to play the final), because it is very important for me,” Axar said. “I have been waiting for many years to play in front of my family on my home ground. It’s a very proud moment. After two years, I will be playing on home ground — and that too in an ICC World Cup final.”On social media trolls calling the Ahmedabad stadium “jinxed”, Axar replied with a smile: “I didn’t play that game (the 2023 World Cup final), so now I think the jinx will be broken!”
