Axar Patel Shines as India Leads Series 2-1

In a thrilling fourth T20I match on the Gold Coast, former Australian captain Aaron Finch showered praise on India's Axar Patel, who played a significant role in India's 48-run victory over Australia. Patel's all-round performance, which included two wickets for 20 runs and an unbeaten 21 runs, earned him the Player of the Match title. Finch highlighted Patel's clean striking ability and his exceptional bowling skills, calling him "a serious package in international cricket."

Finch noted that Patel provided a crucial boost to India's innings with his late-order batting, enabling the team to surpass a seemingly modest score of 160. Patel explained his approach, stating that he assessed the pitch conditions before making his batting move. His ability to exploit good length while bowling also contributed to India's success against the Australian batsmen, who crumbled under pressure.

Australia's chase began strong but quickly deteriorated as they lost their last nine wickets for just 52 runs. Finch commended India's spinners, particularly Axar and Washington Sundar, who claimed three wickets between them. Despite Australia's initial confidence, they fell to 119 all out, leading to India's series lead of 2-1.

Shubman Gill was India’s top scorer with 46 runs, showcasing effective partnerships with Abhishek Sharma and Shivam Dube. Captain Suryakumar Yadav praised the batters for their smart approach, emphasizing teamwork in their victory.

Finch also shared insights on Shivam Dube, urging the Mumbai all-rounder to adopt a more aggressive mindset when facing pace bowlers. He expressed a desire to see Dube expand his game beyond spin bowling, as he possesses the power to dominate fast bowlers, especially evidenced during the IPL.

As the teams prepare for the fifth and final match in Brisbane, all eyes will be on Dube and Patel to see if they can continue their impactful performances and help India secure the series victory.