[Watch] Axar Patel gets the big fish as Jos Buttler departs during IND vs ENG T20 World Cup semifinal
After playing a handy cameo in India's first innings, Axar Patel made a crucial impact with the ball straightaway. He dismissed England captain Jos Buttler on the first ball of his spell during the T20 World Cup semifinal in Guyana on Thursday, June 27.
Buttler was starting to look dangerous with three boundaries in the over prior bowled by Arshdeep Singh. He decided to take on Axar straightaway with a reverse sweep. However, the ball gripped and hit the toe end of his bat and lobbed towards wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant, who completed a simple catch.
Here's a video of the big wicket:
Axar Patel began his second over with a wicket as well as he cleaned up Jonny Bairstow, who didn't read the arm ball. Trying to smash it through the covers, Bairstow saw the ball hit his off-stump.
Ravichandran Ashwin was spot on about Axar Patel causing problems to England openers
In a video on his YouTube channel, veteran Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin had explained why Axar needed to be introduced early against the England openers. He shed light on Axar's flat trajectory and opined that with a fine arm ball, the left-arm spinner could also slow it up with the ball gripping into the surface.
Here's what he said:
"A spinner like Axar bowling to Jos Buttler and Salt, he has got two toys. He can bowl a fantastic arm ball. He can slow the ball down. He can also slide it in with the arm. Which makes it three toys in his favour. Jos Buttler's trajectory is low. When you look at it, it is a good thing for Axar Patel to bowl the first over."
While Axar didn't bowl the first over, he has made enough dents into England's batting for India to be all over them at the time of writing.