Manchester: Axar Patel etched his name in the record books by becoming the first spinner from India national cricket team to claim 100 wickets in T20 Internationals during the second T20I against England cricket team.
The all-rounder achieved the milestone by dismissing England captain Harry Brook, who was playing a blistering knock, in a high-scoring encounter at Manchester. Axar is now only the fourth Indian bowler overall to reach the 100-wicket mark in T20Is.
Axar joins elite list of Indian bowlers
With this achievement, Axar joins an elite group of Indian bowlers led by Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya. His consistency across formats and ability to deliver in crucial moments have made him a key asset for India in limited-overs cricket.
Reaching the milestone in just 98 matches, Axar has established himself as India’s most successful spinner in the shortest format, known for his economical spells and knack for breakthroughs.
India post competitive total after strong start
Earlier in the match, India opted to bat first and posted a challenging total of 190/7 in their allotted 20 overs. The innings featured contributions from several players, including Abhishek Sharma, Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan.
A major talking point was the debut of 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who became the youngest Indian international cricketer. He showed promise with a quick 14 off 10 balls, including two sixes.
Despite a mid-innings collapse from 130/2 to 165/6, a late cameo from Tilak Varma helped India finish strongly.
England chase powered by Bethell
England’s chase began on a disastrous note as both openers, Phil Salt and Jos Buttler, were dismissed for ducks — a rare occurrence in T20Is. However, Harry Brook’s aggressive innings revived their hopes early on.
The momentum then shifted decisively through Jacob Bethell, who played a match-winning knock of 76 not out. His partnership with Tom Banton stabilised the innings before accelerating in the final overs.
England successfully chased down the target in 19 overs, with Bethell anchoring the innings till the end.
Key bowling and turning points
England’s Sam Curran was the pick of the bowlers in the first innings, finishing with three wickets and restricting India’s scoring in the middle overs.
For India, Axar Patel’s milestone wicket was a highlight, but the bowling unit struggled to contain England’s aggressive batting in the death overs.
Series situation
With this victory, England have taken a 1-0 lead in the five-match T20I series, with three matches still to be played after the first game was washed out.
India will look to bounce back in the upcoming fixtures, while England aim to build on their momentum.
Conclusion
While the result did not go India’s way, Axar Patel’s historic milestone stood out as a major achievement. Becoming the first Indian spinner to reach 100 T20I wickets highlights his growing importance in the team and marks a significant moment in his international career.