Felt the ball was chasing me, says Axar Patel

Even during highest postulation hours on the banks of the Sabarmati, it seldom takes much than 90 minutes to question the 60-odd kilometres betwixt Nadiad and the Narendra Modi Stadium. This weekend, however, the tiny municipality is expected to spot acold much journeys to Ahmedabad — galore hoping their favourite Nadiadi mightiness assistance them unafraid a summons to Sunday’s (March 8, 2026) Men’s T20 World Cup last and to privation him luck.

For Axar Patel, the juncture promises to beryllium peculiar for much than 1 reason. The allrounder volition get a accidental to play successful beforehand of his location assemblage for the archetypal clip successful this tourney aft being near retired of India’s 2 earlier matches successful Ahmedabad.

“I person been desperately waiting for truthful agelong to play a large lucifer astatine the location crushed successful beforehand of the family,” Axar said aft playing a cardinal relation successful India’s semifinal triumph against England astatine the Wankhede Stadium successful Mumbai.

“It’s a arrogant infinitesimal for maine to play the World Cup last astatine my location ground. And it’ll besides beryllium the archetypal clip my lad volition ticker maine successful enactment from the stadium, truthful that besides matters a lot.”

Axar’s athleticism successful the tract proved important during England’s chase. His sprinting-backward-running drawback to disregard Harry Brook gave India aboriginal momentum, portion a relay effort with Shivam Dube removed the unsafe Will Jacks aft a blistering concern with centurion Jacob Bethell.

Charging successful from sweeper-cover, Axar completed the drawback and lobbed the shot to Dube conscionable earlier crossing the bound enactment — a infinitesimal that swung the lucifer backmost India’s way.

“Today was benignant of a time erstwhile the shot was chasing me,” Axar said.

“Harry Brook’s was personally tougher but if you look astatine the crippled concern and the mode successful which the concern had developed, to disregard Jacks was critical, truthful it was peculiar successful that sense. It’s precise hard for maine to take but if you inquire maine personally, the Brook drawback was tougher.”