Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) bounced back with a bang in the IPL 2024 as they secured a convincing 7-wicket victory over Delhi Capitals (DC) on Monday. The star of the show was Phil Salt, whose explosive innings of 68 runs off just 33 balls set the tone for KKR’s successful chase.
While Salt’s performance was commendable, it was Axar Patel’s delivery that stole the spotlight. In the ninth over, Axar bowled a deceptive arm-ball that completely bamboozled Salt, sending his stumps flying. The delivery earned high praise from former Indian cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu, who likened Axar to the legendary Bishan Singh Bedi.
Sidhu, who was on commentary duty, lauded Axar for his clever tactics in outfoxing the batsman. “To outfox a batsman who was playing like this, sending him back, Axar, wah! That’s why Axar Patel is selected again and again in the Indian team,” Sidhu remarked.
With the T20 World Cup looming on the horizon, players from all IPL teams are eager to impress the national selectors. Axar’s stellar performance with both bat and ball has put him in contention for a spot in the Indian squad. The final squad is expected to be announced on Tuesday, with BCCI secretary Jay Shah set to meet the selectors in Ahmedabad for discussions.
The selectors face tough decisions, including choosing between Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill as the third opener, as well as addressing concerns over the bowling fitness of all-rounder Hardik Pandya. As the deadline for squad announcements approaches, the competition among players to secure a spot in the national team is heating up.