Axar Patel’s brilliant innings of 47 off 31 balls played a crucial role in India’s historic T20 World Cup 2024 triumph against South Africa. Coming to bat at a critical moment with India struggling at 34/3, Axar turned the game around, thanks to key advice from Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Hardik Pandya.

In a recent interview, Axar revealed the guidance he received as he prepared to head out to bat. Rohit Sharma, who had just returned to the dressing room after his dismissal, told Axar to pad up. Soon after, Rahul Dravid sent the same message through Yuzvendra Chahal. With little time to think, Axar padded up as Suryakumar Yadav fell, bringing him to the crease in a high-pressure situation.

Axar shared that as he went to bat, his teammate Hardik Pandya, speaking in Gujarati, told him to simply “watch the ball and hit,” reminding him not to overthink. Once Axar was at the crease, Virat Kohli gave him a clear plan. Kohli advised, “We are 34/3. Let’s take this partnership till the 8-9th over and aim to be around 60/3 by then. That will put us in a better position to plan the rest of the innings. But if we lose more wickets, we will be in trouble.”

Axar’s quick adjustment helped him find a boundary off the first ball he faced, which set the tone for his aggressive yet controlled innings. His power-hitting, especially against South African spinners, allowed Kohli to settle into his natural game. Together, they rebuilt India’s innings and paved the way for the team’s eventual victory.

Axar’s performance in the final and his consistent contributions throughout the tournament earned him the reputation of being India’s “crisis man” during the T20 World Cup 2024.