He hasn’t got a consistent opportunity with the ball in this series, but Axar Patel has become a headache for the Australians with the bat as the left-hander has recorded back-to-back half-centuries in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2023, both while bailing India out of trouble.
In the Nagpur Test, Axar scored 84 (174) coming in at 240/7 and took India to 400. In Delhi, then, India were in an even bigger trouble at 135/6, having just lost Virat Kohli, in reply to Australia’s 263, when Axar walked in to bat.
When he eventually got out, India trailed by only 4 runs, as Patel, along with Ashwin, brought India to almost parity in the first innings, consigning the game to effectively a last innings shootout.
Axar Patel averages 31 with the bat in Test cricket, 3 fifties in 15 knocks
While he’s batted at number 9 and 8 in these two knocks, Axar Patel has played like a proper batsman, putting up an exemplary show for those recognized as batters on the way to deal with the Australian spinners on spin-friendly pitches.
On Day 2 in Delhi, when Axar and Ashwin joined hands, India were 139/7, still trailing by 124 runs – a big deficit on this surface, one where Australia had the upper hand. The pair put up a solid partnership filled with attractive and bold shot-making of 114 (177) to bring the trail down to single digits.
Axar, in particular, was clear in his intent to attack the spinners, despite the pitch offering plenty of turn and bite to the three Aussie spinners. Axar Patel hit 9 fours and 3 sixes in his innings, the big sixes, properly connected slogs coming off Kuhnemann and Murphy.
Twitterati was all in praise for Axar Patel, whose half-century kept India alive in Delhi:
Lyon was on the charge before Axar and Ashwin stopped him. Superb partnership 👏🏽😄 #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/6nAFULSWl3
— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) February 18, 2023
The hero of the Indian innings – Axar Patel with an extraordinary 74.
He's a tough bloke, always performed under pressure. The crisis man of India! pic.twitter.com/4djg0Iq4Wc
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) February 18, 2023
End of an extraordinary knock from Axar Patel, 74 runs when India was down & out in the Delhi test. He has given a great chance for India. pic.twitter.com/SW8fUhqxff
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) February 18, 2023
Back to back fifties for Axar Patel, India under pressure & Axar stands tall in tough situation.
What a knock, the crisis man. pic.twitter.com/u5K4nRwXVD
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) February 18, 2023
A grand ovation from the dressing room for Axar Patel. pic.twitter.com/zUk3ZKpdjn
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) February 18, 2023
Remember all those takes before first Test asking Kuldeep to play over Axar.
Yeah,me too, let's laugh at them.#INDvAUS #BGT2023 #CricketTwitter pic.twitter.com/S2qzU7GFGb
— Akash (@Akashkumarjha14) February 18, 2023
India 139/7. Ash Anna and Axar: pic.twitter.com/uZ2AYc8MtZ
— Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) February 18, 2023
Axar Patel treating the debutant Kuhnemann in the way he should be treated 😎pic.twitter.com/18WCUvBToo
— Utsav 💔 (@utsav045) February 18, 2023
What a game we have in store here. That innings by Axar Patel has hauled India back into contention. How will Australia handle the spin in the crucial third innings?
— Iceland Cricket (@icelandcricket) February 18, 2023
Now you realize why Axar Patel's wedding deserved more hype than that of KL Rahul
— Neeche Se Topper (@NeecheSeTopper) February 18, 2023
In his short Test career so far, Axar has played some really crucial inns.
74 v AUS in Delhi 2023 (entry- 135/6)
84 v AUS in Nagpur-23 (240/7)
34 v BAN in Mirpur-22 (12/2, chasing 145 in tricky conditions)
52 v NZ in Mumbai-21(224/6)
43 v ENG in Ahmdbd-21(259/7) #INDvAUS
— Jigar Mehta (@jigsactin) February 18, 2023
Pat Cummins when his team does all the hard work only to see Axar, Ashwin and Shami help India take 50+ run lead in 1st innings pic.twitter.com/2oddLnKXkX
— Arnav Singh (@Arnavv43) February 18, 2023
Mirpur 2nd inns, Nagpur 1st inns and now here in Delhi.
3 consecutive innings for Axar where he's batted well and took India out of trouble.
— Gurkirat Singh Gill (@gurkiratsgill) February 18, 2023
Damage Control Inning From Axar Patel. Take A Bow 🙇♂️ #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/zGi9RytA6z
— Sir BoiesX 🕯 (@BoiesX45) February 18, 2023
Imagine getting the top 7 for 140 then you watch axar-ashwin coming in at 8,9 pile up runs, how frustrating it is for aus 🤣
— arfan (@Im__Arfan) February 18, 2023
that 30 odd against Bangladesh in a 4th inn runchase, 82 in the first test and anr 50 today, Axar Patel has been saving our a$$ continuously
— retired ICT fan (@anubhav__tweets) February 18, 2023
India have been bowled out for 262, giving Australia a lead of only 1 run. Nathan Lyon was Australia’s best bowler on the day, taking a five-wicket haul.
This game is now reduced to a virtual one-innings knockout.
