Axar Patel reveals what Virat Kohli told him when he walked out to bat in the T20 World Cup final vs South Africa

Axar Patel, the star all-rounder of the Indian Cricket Team, has recently revealed how Virat Kohli guided him during their remarkable partnership in the thrilling final of the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 against South Africa at the Kensington Oval in Barbados.

Axar was sent to bat at number five ahead of Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, and Ravindra Jadeja when Team India was struggling at 34/3 in the T20 World Cup 2024 final against the South African team in Barbados. Well, Patel didn’t disappoint his captain, Rohit Sharma, and coach, Rahul Dravid, playing an unforgettable innings in the final.

Axar Patel reveals the secrets behind his memorable knock in T20 World Cup 2024 Final

The left-handed batter played a counter-attacking and crucial knock of 47 runs off 31 balls, laced with four sixes and a four, and stitched a valuable 74-run fourth-wicket stand with Kohli (76 runs off 59 balls) to take India out of troubled waters in the summit clash against South Africa in Barbados.

Thanks to Axar and Kohli’s massive contributions, the Men in Blue managed to post a total of 176/7, with Shivam Dube contributing a quick 27 off 16 balls in the final. In response, South Africa fell just seven runs short of the target, thanks to Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, and Arshdeep Singh's efforts, as India was crowned the World Cup champion after 13 years.

Well, the 30-year-old all-rounder has now recalled how Kohli's encouragement boosted his confidence during their match-defining partnership in the T20 World Cup 2024 final against South Africa. He admitted that starting with a boundary helped him settle in and control his nerves.

And then Kohli's words pumped Patel up, and his former Indian skipper continuously motivated him throughout their crucial stand in Barbados. Axar revealed that Kohli told him to go for big hits if he felt confident, and his constant communication with him was instrumental in his performance.

The constant communication with Virat Kohli was helpful: Axar Patel

Axar Patel was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz: “I hit a boundary off the first ball I faced. I became very confident. I spoke to Virat bhai and he kept guiding me. He said, 'I'm there. If you think that you can hit, then go for it.' The constant communication was helpful. The rest is history.”

The all-rounder made significant contributions with both the bat and the ball throughout India’s successful 2024 T20 World Cup campaign. He claimed that high-pressure situations brought out his best performances. He had scored 20 runs and added 39 runs with Rishabh Pant against Pakistan.

Axar signed off by saying, “It's all about mindset. When there is pressure, I don't get fazed. I stay calm, think about the game, and handle myself accordingly. The key is staying in the present. It's not easy, but I focus on the immediate task at hand: which bowler I'm facing and what the situation demands. I don't get double-minded.”

Notably, Axar has been named in both the ODI and T20I squads for India’s upcoming tour of Sri Lanka in July-August. It is India’s first assignment under the new head coach, Gautam Gambhir. The three-match T20I series will get underway on July 27, while the ODIs begin on August 2.