Axar Patel's Crucial Innings Hailed by Rohit Sharma as Key to India's T20 World Cup Triumph

Rohit Sharma Credits Axar Patel's Crucial Knock for T20 World Cup Victory

Following India's triumphant ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024 victory, Rohit Sharma has highlighted the pivotal role played by a particular player in their final clash against South Africa. Sharma, who bid farewell to T20Is after the historic win, acknowledged the team's resilience and composure.

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma celebrating the T20 World Cup victory over South Africa.

While Virat Kohli received praise, it was Axar Patel who Sharma identified as the "game changer" in the tense final. India's victory over South Africa at the Kensington Oval in Barbados on June 29, 2024, ended an 11-year wait for an ICC title. This win marked their first T20 World Cup title since the inaugural edition in 2007 and their first ICC trophy since the 2013 Champions Trophy.

India, batting first, posted 176/7, with a steady innings from Kohli and a vital counter-attacking knock from Patel. South Africa, despite a promising start, fell short in the chase, finishing at 169/8.

Reflecting on the final, Rohit Sharma stated, "Not many people are talking about his (Axar's) knock. But, that knock was a game changer. To get 47 off 31 in that time was very very crucial."

Axar Patel's 47 runs off 31 balls, punctuated with timely boundaries, shifted the momentum in India's favor when the team was struggling. His partnership with Kohli stabilized the innings before Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube provided the finishing touches.

Sharma also commended Kohli for anchoring the innings: "And then obviously we needed one guy to stick around. Virat did that job perfectly. Batted the entire innings throughout, which was really good, because Shivam, Axar, Hardik, they can come and play their role."

Kohli's 76 runs from 59 balls earned him the Player of the Match award. The bowlers, spearheaded by Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh, held their composure in the final overs to secure the long-awaited ICC title, ending India's trophy drought in major tournaments.