T20 World Cup 2024: Axar Patel opens up on his crucial partnership with Rishabh Pant vs PAK

Axar Patel (Pic: File Pic)

Following Team India's six-run win in the T20 World Cup 2024 match against Pakistan, all-rounder Axar Patel, wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant and pacer Mohammad Siraj opened up about their approach.

Lead pacer Jasprit Bumrah's three-wicket haul and Pant's aggressive approach helped India register another thrilling chapter during the T20 World Cup 2024 match against Pakistan.

In a video posted by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), spinner Yuzvendra Chahal unveiled his latest episode of 'Chahal TV' featuring the aforementioned three players.

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When Yuzvendra Chahal asked Axar about his promotion to number four in the batting order, the all-rounder said that things were made easy as Pant was joking around.

"There was no chance of planning when I came to know that I was going to go at four. When I went for the batting, it was easy for me. Our captain (Pant, DC captain) was not telling me anything about cricket. He was just joking around. He knew that I would become a little easy. He kept telling me something on every ball. I also talked to him and it became a little easy. It was the same planning and nothing else," said Axar.

On bowling to Pakistan all-rounder Imad Wasim, Axar said that he did not want to get hit for a six in the mid-wicket region and the plan was to not give him any balls in his range.

"So I talked to the captain, Rohit bhai, that I would ball in the cut so give me two points. And keep the back sweeper a little inside the cut. If he hits the four on the cut or the cover, then it is okay. Because that is a very difficult shot. If the execution was good, then the over was also good. And then the difference in the run also increased," he added.

During the T20 World Cup 2024 match against Pakistan, Pant played a gritty knock helping the side reach a total of 119 runs. Following his knock, Pant said the plan was to play with a positive mindset.

"India-Pakistan is always a match of pressure. When Bapu (Axar) came in, the entire IPL, he practiced the same thing, batting at number three or four. When your mate is with you, you become comfortable. We were talking to each other and we were getting comfortable with each other. We did not think much about the situation," he said.

After contributing with the willow, Pant also took three catches in the later half. When asked about his favourite catch, Pant said, "All the catches were my favorites."

Mohammed Siraj also scored crucial seven runs in the end, following which he said he has been practising his batting a lot.

"All the runs made by the tailenders are very crucial at the end of the day. You found out at the end how important the seven runs were to me. So I am very happy with those seven runs and I won the match. It was very good," he added.

Regarding his game plan while bowling, Siraj said he wanted to keep things simple.

"My only plan was to get a low score. I do not try too much. I keep a simple plan and execute it wherever I can. If the batsman takes a good shot from there, then it is a good shot. So, my only plan was to put it in one place," the Indian pacer said.

Coming to the T20 World Cup 2024 match, Pakistan won the toss and put India to bat first. However, the Indian batters did not get things going for them at this tough surface as star openers Virat Kohli (4) and Rohit Sharma (13) failed to score big. Rishabh Pant (42 in 31 balls, with six fours) seemed to be playing on a different pitch and had useful partnerships with Axar Patel (20 in 18 balls, with two fours and a six) and Suryakumar Yadav (seven in eight balls, with a four). However, the lower middle order crumbled under the pressure of scoring runs on such a tough pitch and India could make just 119 in 19 overs.

Haris Rauf (3/21) and Naseem Shah (3/21) were the top bowlers for Pakistan. Mohammed Amir got two scalps while Shaheen Shah Afridi got one.

In the run-chase, Pakistan took a more measured approach and Mohammed Rizwan (31 in 44 balls, with a four and six) held one end steady. However, Bumrah (3/14) and Hardik Pandya (2/24) got crucial wickets from skipper Babar Azam (13), Fakhar Zaman (13), Shadab Khan (4), Iftikhar Ahmed (5) as well, which kept the pressure intact on Pakistan. With 18 runs needed in the final over, Naseem Shah (10') tried to win it for Pakistan, however, Arshdeep Singh (1/31) made sure Pakistan fell short by six runs.

Bumrah secured the 'Player of the Match' for his match-winning spell.

After winning this thriller, India is at the top of Group A with two wins in two games and four points. Pakistan is in fourth place, having lost both their games to the USA and India. Their knockout stage chances look slim.

(With ANI Inputs)