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Axar Patel has expressed how he was doing the ‘maths’ to assist Virat Kohli attain his 51st ODI century throughout India’s win over Pakistan within the 2025 Champions Trophy.
Virat Kohli (L) and Axar Patel. (AP Photograph)
India all-rounder Axar Patel stated he was doing the maths when Virat Kohli was racing in opposition to the brief goal to get to his century on Sunday in the course of the high-octane conflict with Pakistan within the 2025 Champions Trophy.
Kohli reached his century — a record-extending 51st in ODIs — with a boundary via covers in opposition to Khushdil Shah that additionally sealed India’s six-wicket win. Earlier than that 4, he was at 96 and India wanted solely two runs to win. He had reached that place additionally as a result of Axar on the opposite finish selflessly took three runs on 4 balls, as an alternative of attempting to complete the match, and let the senior batter have the strike as a lot as doable.
“On the finish, truly major bhi thoda maths kar raha tha unke hundred ke liye (Even I used to be doing the mathematics for his hundred in direction of the tip). I hoped that I don’t edge the ball or one thing. So, it was fairly enjoyable,” Axar stated in video posted by ICC.
“It was the primary time I received to observe a high-pressure sport from the dressing room the place Virat bhaiya scored a century. I had lots of enjoyable, and the best way he was operating between the wickets after fielding for 50 overs is a testomony to his health,” Axar added.
It was not Axar’s solely contribution to India’s win. The left-arm spinner additionally took the essential wicket of Pakistani captain Mohammad Rizwan for 46 (77), breaking his 104-run stand with Saud Shakeel. Axar may have additionally received Shakeel out in the identical over if not for a troublesome probability drop by Kuldeep Yadav within the deep.
However Kuldeep additionally made up for it with three wickets — his finest efficiency since getting back from a hernia surgical procedure final yr.
“Whenever you return from an damage, it takes a while to get again to full tilt. You discover the rhythm solely after enjoying matches. I feel he was out for near 3-4 months, then he performed a few matches. He was attempting arduous in observe to seek out rhythm like earlier than,” Axar stated in the identical interview.
India will now play their subsequent match in opposition to New Zealand on March 2.