Axar Patel Achieves Elite Feat To Match Ravindra Jadeja In Exclusive List

Axar Patel for India [Source: AFP]

In a massive development, Axar Patel, the Indian spinner, has created an unprecedented record, registering his name only after Ravindra Jadeja to become only the second Indian spinner to etch his name into the record books in England. 

As India took on England in the first ODI at Edgbaston, the Men in Blue had the hosts by their necks in the very early stages of the match. However, Joe Root and Liam Dawson anchored the innings, with only Axar Patel coming to the rescue and cleaning up the tail to bundle England out for 258 runs. 

While doing so, Patel bagged a massive record and once again proved his value as one of India's most dependable all-round spin options in white-ball cricket.

Axar Patel creates an elite spin bowling record for India

Axar produced a brilliant spell in the death overs to enter an elusive list in Indian ODI cricket. The left-arm spinner became only the second Indian spinner to claim four wickets between overs 41 and 50 of an ODI innings. 

He is only behind Ravindra Jadeja, who achieved the feat against Sri Lanka in Port of Spain in 2013. This exclusive list now comprises only Axar and Ravindra Jadeja, further highlighting the impact both left-arm spinners have made for India over the years.

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How did Axar broke the English stand?

As Axar Patel registered the record, his late burst with the ball triggered England's collapse in the death overs. After Ben Duckett and Jacob Bethell came out to open, Gurnoor Brar removed both openers and almost had a solid grip on the hosts, with early wickets tumbling as England slumped to 80 for five after 16.4 overs. 

However, the experienced Joe Root and Liam Dawson absorbed the pressure brilliantly and stitched together a massive 121-run partnership off just 134 deliveries. Their stand rescued England from a difficult position and helped the hosts cross the 250-run mark.

Patel eventually broke the crucial stand by dismissing Liam Dawson in the 45th over before running through the lower order. He then removed Josh Tongue, Adil Rashid, and Jofra Archer to finish with a superb four-wicket haul. 

England collapsed from 228 at the fall of Dawson's wicket to 258 all out, losing their final five wickets for just 30 runs. Patel's spell ensured that India kept England below the 260-run mark despite Root and Dawson's remarkable recovery.

How Edgbaston pitch assisted the bowlers in IND vs ENG 1st ODI?

The Edgbaston pitch offered steep bounce throughout the innings, with the pacers receiving considerable assistance and extracting awkward bounce from the surface. 

However, there was enough assistance for the spinners as well, and Axar Patel made full use of the conditions with his disciplined left-arm spin. Although fellow spinner Washington Sundar was included in the playing XI, his economical four-over spell yielded no wickets despite conceding only 13 runs. 

Apart from Patel's four wickets, Shivam Dube and Jasprit Bumrah picked up one wicket each, while Gurnoor Brar and Prasidh Krishna claimed two wickets apiece.

With India restricting England to 258 despite Root and Dawson's resistance, the visitors headed into the chase with the upper hand. 

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