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India star all-rounder Axar Patel who finished the match against Pakistan alongside Virat Kohli revealed that he also started calculating when the former skipper nearing his 82nd ODI century at Dubai International Stadium in Dubai. As Kohli neared his century, Axar started silently praying that he didn’t edge the ball at the other end, all to make sure the modern-day great will reach his milestone.
Axar joined Virat when India needed 19 runs to win the game and Kohli was unbeaten on 86.
"At the end, actually main bhi thoda maths kar raha tha unke hundred ke liye (Even I was doing the math for his hundred towards the end). I was hoping that I don't edge the ball or something. So, it was quite fun," Axar said in video posted by ICC.
However, Pakistan speedster Shaheen Afridi bowled three wides in the 42nd over, making Kohli’s path to the century a bit trickier. At one point, fans started booeing Axar for taking a single as spectators wanted witness Kohli's century. With Kohli stranded on 96 and India needing just two runs to win, skipper Rohit Sharma cheekily gestured for him from the dressing room to finish the game with a six. After Rohit's message, Kohli, instead of going for a maximum, elegantly drove the ball to the boundary to bring up his hundred in style.
"It was the first time I got to watch a high-pressure game from the dressing room where Virat bhaiya scored a century. I had a lot of fun, and the way he was running between the wickets after fielding for 50 overs is a testament to his fitness," Axar added.
Rohit Sharma-led side have already won their first two league matches and now the Men in Blue will face New Zealand on March 2 at the same venue.
