As Team India prepares for the start of their ICC Champions Trophy campaign, all eyes are on Axar Patel, the spin bowling all-rounder who has quietly emerged as one of the most valuable players in Indian cricket.
While Axar’s contributions with the bat and ball often fly under the radar, a closer look reveals that he stands out in a cricketing landscape filled with spin-bowling all-rounders. What makes him truly unique is his ability to take on world-class spin bowling with his own batting skills.
In the 2020s, Axar has seen a massive improvement with the bat. In 99 matches across all formats, Axar has scored 1,606 runs at an average of 26.76, with eight half-centuries and a best score of 84. These stats have helped him establish himself as a serious competitor for a spot alongside premier all-rounders like Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin.
Throughout this decade, Axar has played several match-winning knocks, rescuing India from difficult situations with well-timed drives and strong performances against spin. His 47 off 31 balls in the T20 World Cup final against South Africa in 2021, his 84 against Australia at the Nagpur Test in 2023, and his 74 in the Delhi Test against Australia, are a few examples where he stood tall against spinners like Keshav Maharaj, Nathan Lyon, and Matthew Kuhnemann.
Axar’s ability to counter spin makes him one of the best players of spin in the current Indian setup. Since January 2021, he boasts an average of 40.38 in Tests and 525 runs. His numbers against spin are impressive, with only a few batters—like Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant, Shreyas Iyer, and Shubman Gill—having a better average against spin, according to Wisden.
In white-ball cricket, Axar is a valuable floater. His ability to bat against spin in both ODIs and T20Is makes him an important tactical asset. In ODIs, he averages 37.75 against spin, and in T20Is, he strikes at 148.1 against spin. Despite some competition from other star batters like Shreyas Iyer and Rohit Sharma, Axar’s dual-threat as both a batsman and bowler makes him an indispensable part of the squad.
As a bowler, Axar’s value is unmatched. He averages below 20 in Tests and maintains an impressive economy rate of 4.50 in ODIs and 7.30 in T20Is. Whether it’s turning the ball on spin-friendly wickets in Tests or containing batsmen in white-ball cricket, Axar’s all-around abilities make him a rare commodity in Indian cricket.