Axar Patel Reveals Virat Kohli’s Inspiring Words Before His T20 World Cup Final Innings Against South Africa

New Delhi: Star India all-rounder Axar Patel recently opened up on how Virat Kohli guided him during their crucial partnership in the nail-biting final of the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 against South Africa At Kensington Oval in Barbados.

Axar was promoted up in the batting order, he was sent at number five instead of Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube and Ravindra Jadeja when team India was struggling at 34/3 in T20 World Cup 2024 final against South Africa. Patel stepped up on the occasion and played an unforgettable innings.

The left-handed batter played a counter-attacking and crucial knock of 47 runs off 31 balls, laced with four sixes and a four. He forged a valuable 74-run fourth-wicket partnership with Kohli (76 runs off 59 balls), rescuing India from a precarious situation in the summit clash against South Africa in Barbados.

Axar, revealed that Kohli told him to go for big hits if he felt confident, and his constant communication with him was instrumental in his performance.

Axar Patel was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz: “I hit a boundary off the first ball I faced. I became very confident. I spoke to Virat bhai and he kept guiding me. He said, ‘I’m there. If you think that you can hit, then go for it.’ The constant communication was helpful. The rest is history.”

The all-rounder played extremely well throughout the tournament and made match winning contributions. He claimed that high-pressure situations brought out his best performances. In a previous match against Pakistan, he had scored 20 runs and added 39 runs with Rishabh Pant.

“It’s all about mindset. When there is pressure, I don’t get fazed. I stay calm, think about the game, and handle myself accordingly. The key is staying in the present. It’s not easy, but I focus on the immediate task at hand: which bowler I’m facing and what the situation demands. I don’t get double-minded,” he concluded.

Axar has been selected in both the ODI and T20I squads for India’s upcoming white ball series against Sri Lanka in July-August. The tour will mark Gautam Gambhir’s era in Indian cricket as a head coach. The three-match T20I series will get underway on July 27, while the ODIs begin on August 2.