IND vs SA T20 WC Final: How perfect floater Axar Patel rescue act saved India from choking against South Africa?

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IND vs SA T20 WC Final: Axar Patel rose to the occasion after India were reduced to 34/3 in 4.3 overs against South Africa in the T20 World Cup 2024 final at the Kensington Oval in Barbados on Saturday, June 29.

Indian innings was in shambles after left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj dismissed Rohit Sharma and Rishabh Pant in the second over. Pacer Kagiso Rabada then picked the big wicket of Suryakumar Yadav in the fifth over to push India further under the pump.

It was then that the Indian team management picked the decision of sending Axar Patel at five ahead of Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja. Axar played the role of a floater with perfection, and took the attacking route from the beginning.

While Virat Kohli held one end, Axar Patel launched the assault on South Africa bowlers by playing with the wind. A wind speed of 30 km/h was recorded at the Kensington Oval, and the left-hand batter used it to his advantage by playing his shots in the direction of the wind.

His innings consisted of four sixes and a four. Axar Patel's partnership with Virat Kohli accounted for 72 runs off 54 balls. He looked well set for a fifty but unfortunately got run out after a brilliant throw from wicket-keeper Quinton de Kock at the non-striker's end.

Nevertheless, the crucial innings from Axar Patel took India past 100 without losing any further wickets after the opening blows. It saved India's innings from getting completely derailed under the high-pressure game.

Courtesy the knock from Axar and his partnership with Kohli, India got the license to attack South Africa bowlers freely and post a above-par total batting first in the T20 World Cup 2024 final.