Left-arm all-rounder Axar Patel has become the first Indian spinner in history to scale the 100-wicket mountain in T20 internationals. He achieved this monumental feat during the second T20I against England at the Old Trafford.
Axar Patel becomes 1st Indian spinner to scalp 100 T20I wickets
Entering the match sitting on 99 wickets, Axar comfortably stayed ahead of two of the country’s most celebrated white-ball wrist-spinners, Yuzvendra Chahal (96) and Kuldeep Yadav (95). He secured the landmark in style, turning in a masterful bowling performance of 3/9 to bring his career T20I average to a highly impressive 21.43.
By hitting the century mark, the all-rounder joins an elite club previously occupied only by pacers Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, and Hardik Pandya, underscoring the historic nature of his accomplishment. Axar's success has been defined by his ability to maintain relentless control and secure timely breakthroughs, qualities that have been especially evident in his encounters against England. Over the years, the left-arm spinner has established himself as a constant thorn in the side of the Three Lions, weaponizing a career economy rate of 7.39 and bagging 11 wickets across 12 T20I matches against them while maintaining a tight 7.67 economy rate in those specific clashes.
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Prior to this historic milestone, Axar had a relatively quiet outing during India's tour of Belfast, where he picked up just two wickets in the first T20I against Ireland and went wicketless in the second. While he has often been an underrated force in the shortest format, this standout performance against England is bound to boost his confidence, placing him on a global leaderboard of elite T20I spinners currently headlined by Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan (193 wickets), New Zealand's Ish Sodhi, and England’s Adil Rashid.
Axar Patel shines with the ball
Axar’s bowling masterclass was backed by a strong collective effort from the batsmen after captain Shreyas Iyer won the toss and chose to bat. The solitary change to the lineup generated massive headlines as 15-year-old prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi made his senior debut in place of Sanju Samson, contributing a quickfire 14 off 10 balls. The momentum was sustained by Abhishek Sharma’s explosive 43 off 24 balls and Ishan Kishan’s anchored 49 off 40, before Iyer (37) and vice-captain Tilak Varma—who smashed a brisk 24 off 11—propelled India to a commanding 190/7. England's pursuit of 191 immediately fell into jeopardy during a disastrous opening over, as left-arm quick Arshdeep Singh removed both openers, Jos Buttler and Phil Salt, for ducks.