In pursuit of a daunting 206-run total, the Indian Cricket team looked in all sorts of trouble at the halfway stage of the inning. Shubman Gill, once again, got out cheaply for just 2 runs after getting out by playing a reckless shot.
Ishan Kishan couldn’t sprinkle his magic as he was out bowled by Rajitha. Rahul Tripathi, making his debut, edged the ball to the keeper after scoring a boundary as India were reeling at 21 for 3.
Skipper, Hardik Pandya set his intentions clear with one four and a six but he couldn’t convert the start into a big score. Hooda too couldn’t replicate the brilliant knock he played in the last match as India had lost five wickets for just 57 runs on the board.
At the halfway stage of the innings, India had scored 64 runs for the loss of five wickets. There was little hope of making a comeback as India had a mountain to climb.
But what followed was a brilliant partnership between Axar Patel and Suryakumar Yadav, both of whom are currently unbeaten on the crease. Axar Patel has, once again, shown his brilliance with the bat.
He has notched a half-century in just 20 balls and has revived all hopes of winning the game. In the 14th over of the innings, Axar Patel smashed Hasaranga’s tossed-up delivery for a six over the deep square region. On his next ball, he slogged swept another one for a six and followed it with a third consecutive delivery for another six.
He hit the third ball straight down the ground for a six. The fans are in complete awe of Axar Patel’s knock in the second match. They have flooded twitter with numerous reactions. Here’s a look at some of those:
Axar Patel, take a bow. He's actually playing with Surya Kumar Yadav and he's proving to be dominating him at the moment 🔥 #INDvSL
— Farid Khan (@_FaridKhan) January 5, 2023
Great hitting from both @dasunshanaka1 and #axarpatel proper viewing. #INDvSL
— Mitchell McClenaghan (@Mitch_Savage) January 5, 2023
6, 6, 6 by Axar Patel against Hasaranga.
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) January 5, 2023
Axar Patel, fifty off 20 deliveries. Crisp and clean hitting🔥🔥#INDvSL #INDvsSL #SportsYaari
— Manoj Dimri (@manoj_dimri) January 5, 2023
Best innings of Axar Patel's career this year is. Stand and salute everyone. 🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/WQlsPUwMMh
— ANSHUMAN🚩 (@AvengerReturns) January 5, 2023
Bapu thari batting Kamal che!
Dhaga khol diya, what an entertaining knock! 50 of just 20 balls Axar Patel 🥵🤩#INDvSL— Shrutika Gaekwad (@Shrustappen33) January 5, 2023
AXAR PATEL returns the favour 🇮🇳😤
50* in just 20 balls! CMON INDIAAAA!#INDvsSL @akshar2026— Sushant Mehta (@SushantNMehta) January 5, 2023
Take a bow, Axar Patel. This has been a fabulous knock. 50 from just 20 deliveries, that too after walking out to bat in a situation like that! Still keeping India's hopes alive along with SKY.
— Prasenjit Dey (@CricPrasen) January 5, 2023
#INDvSL Axar Patel SuryaKumar Yadav
All those who left the stadium and saw the score on TV while reaching pic.twitter.com/FtNZAvnfmO
— How Football Saved Humans – Great Book to Read (@HowHumans) January 5, 2023
After watching Axar patel and surya kumar yadav.#INDvSL pic.twitter.com/5EanZcjWRl
— Jai Upadhyay (@jay_upadhyay14) January 5, 2023
Axar Patel has surprised me. When they selected him for the T20I team, I thought that his bowling is bankable but batting has got to improve.
But his performances have been opposite. Very good with the bat and inconsistent with the ball. This trend started in the last IPL BTW!
— Cricketjeevi (@wildcardgyan) January 5, 2023
Bapu bhari Cricket khelte hue. #Axarpatel
— Total Gaming (@total_gaming093) January 5, 2023
Baaapu tari batting kamal cheee!!!#AxarPatel
— Shivani Shukla (@iShivani_Shukla) January 5, 2023
Axar Patel statue needed in Gujarat.
— R A T N I S H (@LoyalSachinFan) January 5, 2023
Suryakumar Yadav also supported him brilliantly as he notched a fifty in just 33 balls. However, he got out just after notching a fifty. Axar Patel is currently unbeaten at the crease but India still need 49 runs in 15 balls to win the match.
