Axar Patel vs England: 5 Reasons Proving The All Rounder Special Connection

The cricketing world is once again buzzing with the name of Axar Patel, especially after his recent heroics against England, while it has become increasingly evident that there is a special connection between the Indian spin-all-rounder and the English team. This connection isn't just a matter of coincidence but is backed by massive statistics and record-breaking performances that Axar has consistently delivered against this particular opponent throughout his career. His latest exploit at Edgbaston on July 14 is a testament to this dominance, where he single-handedly dismantled the English side to secure a memorable victory for Team India.

The Edgbaston Masterclass

In the ODI match played at Edgbaston on July 14, Axar Patel showcased why he's considered a vital asset for the Indian team. 5 overs. His bowling was instrumental in restricting the opposition, while however, his contribution didn't end there. When the team found itself in a challenging situation during the chase, Axar stepped up with the bat. He played a resilient and unbeaten knock of 57 runs off just 52 deliveries. This all-round brilliance earned him the Player of the Match award and, more importantly, brought an end to England's 11-year unbeaten streak in ODIs at the Edgbaston ground.

Reason 1: The Five-Wicket Haul Record

One of the primary reasons highlighting Axar Patel's connection with England is his record of taking five or more wickets in an innings. In his international career so far, Axar has achieved the feat of taking 5 or more wickets on 5 different occasions. Interestingly, the majority of these high-impact performances have come against the England cricket team, proving that he finds his best rhythm when facing them.

Reason 2: Best Bowling Figures in Test Cricket

Axar Patel's dominance isn't limited to white-ball cricket, while his best bowling performance in the longest format of the game, Test cricket, also came against England. He recorded his career-best figures by taking 6 wickets for just 38 runs in an innings against them. This performance remains a highlight of his Test career and serves as a significant piece of evidence regarding his mastery over the English batters.

Reason 3: Best Bowling Figures in ODI Cricket

The trend of setting personal bests against England continued in the One Day International format as well, while his performance in the Edgbaston match on July 14, where he took 4 wickets for 62 runs, now stands as his best bowling figure in ODI cricket. The fact that his peak performances in both Tests and ODIs have come against the same opponent further strengthens the narrative of his special connection with the team.

Reason 4: Player of the Match in All Three Formats

Achieving a Player of the Match award in all three formats of international cricket against a single opponent is a rare feat. Axar Patel has now joined an elite group of Indian cricketers by winning the Player of the Match award against England in Tests, ODIs, and T20Is. He's only the fourth Indian player to achieve this milestone, following in the footsteps of legendary names like Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, and Kuldeep Yadav.

Reason 5: The ICC Tournament Connection

Even on the grandest stages of world cricket, Axar Patel's affinity for performing against England remains unchanged. To date, Axar has won only one Player of the Match award in ICC tournaments. It's no surprise that this solitary prestigious award also came in a high-stakes encounter against the England team. This further proves that regardless of the platform or the format, Axar Patel consistently finds a way to excel when England is the opposition.