Axar Patel, India
Axar Patel (Image Credit: Twitter)

Axar Patel has had a dream debut series as he tormented the England batsmen since the second Test not giving an inch to the opposition as India stage another comeback to win the series by 3-1 after conceding an early loss.

Axar Patel picked 27 wickets at a scarcely believable bowling average of 10.59; he bagged 4 five-wicket hauls in the 6 innings he bowled in and didn’t let the team miss Ravindra Jadeja, who is ruled out due to a thumb fracture which he sustained in Australia.

The left-arm spinner supported Ravichandran Ashwin as brilliantly as the team would have only hoped for after replacing Shahbaz Nadeem from the first match, which India lost.

Axar Patel Credits: ANI
Axar Patel Credits: ANI

Axar troubled the English batters with his arm ball, the one which goes straight with the angle, by setting them up with the stock delivery, which turns conventionally.

Axar Patel picks the joint-most wickets by an Indian bowler in debut series

With a magnificent bowling display, the 27-year-old spinner equaled former spinner Dilip Doshi’s 42-year old record of 27 scalps in his debut series against Australia in 1979 – Doshi took the same number of wickets as Axar but in 3 more Tests.

Next on the list is off-spinner, Shivlal Yadav with 24 wickets followed by Axar’s bowling partner in the series, Ravichandran Ashwin, who accounted for 22 wickets in his debut series in 2011 against West Indies.

India book a place for the World Test Championship final versus New Zealand

India, ICC World Test Championship Final
Indian Cricket Team. Image Credits: BCCI

As India wrap up the fourth Test with an innings and 25 runs spare, Virat Kohli’s men win the series and book a ticket to Lord’s to face Kane Williamson’s New Zealand in the final of the World Test Championship in June.

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With the conditions in England more favorable to seam than spin – the Lord’s slope will be in heavy talks once again – and Ravindra Jadeja to gain his fitness soon, it is to be seen if Axar Patel makes into the side. India’s next Test series is also in England, after the IPL and the WTC final.

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