England’s Jacob Bethell gave India a major scare despite hosts setting a target of 254 in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 semifinal at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai, on March 5. Bethell scored a ton but Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya’s economical overs meant that England need 30 runs in the final over. Looking at the match-up, skipper Suryakumar Yadav decided to give the ball to Shivam Dube instead of Axar Patel. Dube bowled a few good deliveries and ensured India’s win before Jofra Archer hit him for a hat-trick of sixes. After the game, Axar revealed that he was ready to bowl the final over but the skipper decided to go the other route. Also, he was confident that he won’t concede five sixes in an over.
"Mai ready tha. Mai long off pe khada tha aur ready tha aur bowling practice bhi kar raha tha. 30 runs to bohot, 5 chakke to nahi khaunga ye pata tha (I was ready. I was standing at long-off and was already practising the final over. Thirty runs were too many and I knew I wouldn't get hit for five sixes in an over.)," Axar said with a laugh while talking to the broadcasters Star Sports.
In the end, India won the match by seven runs as Dube did his job in the first half of the final over. Axar was expensive in his first over, conceding two consecutive sixes before cleaning up Tom Banton. In his three overs, he conceded 35 runs.
Axar’s safe hands take India to final
However, Axar was brilliant as a fielder. Defying India’s below par catch efficiency in the tournament, he took the catches of Phil Salt and Harry Brook in the final over. Later, he took the match-defining relay catch of Will Jacks square of the wicket. He covered a lot of ground while patrolling the boundary to get to the ball and then lobbed it to Dube who completed the catch. An in-form Jacks’ dismissal hurt England as Sam Curran did not had a great impact in the run chase.