"To bowl 12 dot balls at that time was fantastic bowling" - Suresh Raina lauds Axar Patel's performance in AUS vs IND 2025 4th T20I

Former India player Suresh Raina has lauded Axar Patel for his all-round performance in the fourth T20I against Australia. He noted that the spin-bowling all-rounder delivered a potent and economical spell, apart from scoring crucial runs at the end of the Indian innings.

Axar scored an unbeaten 21 off 11 deliveries as India set Australia a 168-run target in the fourth T20I in Gold Coast on Thursday, November 6. The left-arm spinner then registered figures of 2/20 in four overs as the visitors bowled the hosts out for 119 to seal an emphatic 48-run win and take a 2-1 lead in the five-match series.

During a discussion on Star Sports, Raina was asked about his thoughts on Axar's all-round performance.

"When Matthew Short was batting, he was looking in a different rhythm. Axar came and got him out first and then he got Josh Inglis out. The momentum started from there only. If we talk about batting, he scored crucial runs in the last few overs. He has been doing well for a very long time," the former India batter responded. "He picked up two wickets and conceded only 20 runs in his four overs. To bowl 12 dot balls at that time was fantastic bowling by Axar Patel. He showed why he bowls stump to stump. He always bowls positively and looks to pick up wickets. Everyone together won the game, but I feel India won because of Axar's crucial runs and the two wickets he picked," he added.

Axar Patel bowled 12 dot balls and conceded only two boundaries during his four-over spell. He trapped Matthew Short (25 off 19) lbw to break a 37-run opening partnership before castling Josh Inglis ( 12 off 11) for his two scalps.

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"He came to bowl under pressure" - Parthiv Patel picks Axar Patel as India's best bowler in AUS vs IND 2025 4th T20I

Axar Patel was chosen as the Player of the Match for his all-round performance. [P/C: Getty]

In the same discussion, former India wicketkeeper-batter Parthiv Patel chose Axar Patel as the Men in Blue's best bowler in the fourth T20I against Australia, although he acknowledged that Washington Sundar was more successful in terms of the number of wickets.

"Axar Patel definitely, considering the way he bowled. He came to bowl under pressure. He came to bowl in the powerplay, where it seemed like Matthew Short was in form, and he had got momentum. He got a set batter out. If one looks at the wickets, one would say Washington Sundar. He bowled just eight balls and picked up three wickets," he said.

The cricketer-turned-commentator added that Axar proved his worth in the shortest format, highlighting his fellow Gujarat player's versatility with both bat and ball.

"Axar showed once again that he can bat at every number. If we talk about the T20 World Cup final, he batted up the order, and he scored almost a fifty. Here, when he had to play a cameo and give India a good finish with big shots, he did that as well, and we know he can bowl in every phase. He proved once again why he is an extremely valuable player in this format," Parthiv observed.

Axar Patel struck a four and a six during his unbeaten 21-run knock. He hit both those boundaries in the final over, bowled by Marcus Stoinis, to ensure India crossed the 160-run mark.

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Edited by Kartik Iyer