Watch: Hardik Pandya drops to his knees, T Dilip furious as Axar Patel drops a dolly in 2nd ODI

Axar Patel made a really costly mistake in a crucial moment that left Hardik Pandya and fielding coach T Dilip frustrated in the ongoing second ODI encounter between India and England at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack on Sunday (February 9).

India faced a massive letdown on the final delivery of the sixth over, and England opener Phil Salt got the lifeline to make the bowler toil in the powerplay in the ongoing first ODI in Cuttack.

Axar Patel's sitter drop leaves Hardik Pandya and T Dilip fuming

Actually, Hardik Pandya delivered a short ball with width, and Phil Salt went for the uppercut towards deep backward point, and the ball was right there in Axar Patel's hands.

Read Also: Watch: Varun Chakravarthy receives ODI debut cap from Ravindra Jadeja, becomes India's second-oldest debutant

But in a shocking moment, Axar Patel dropped an absolute sitter. The Indian all-rounder, who was positioned near the fence, seemed to have it covered but fumbled the catch in a moment of overconfidence.

Axar Patel misjudged it, letting the ball slip through, leaving Hardik Pandya, T Dilip, and the entire Indian camp fuming at him, as Phil Salt escaped to continue his hammering in Cuttack. This easy chance could’ve been a game-changer for the Men in Blue in the ongoing match.

Watch Axar Patel’s blunder here:

pic.twitter.com/ahg4hsjwco

— Drizzyat12Kennyat8 (@45kennyat7PM) February 9, 2025

Axar Patel's drop proved too costly for the Men in Blue, as Phil Salt and Ben Duckett went on to hammer 81 runs off 66 balls for the opening stand to give a flying start to the England cricket team in the ongoing second ODI at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack on Sunday.

Varun Chakravarthy strikes gold on ODI debut, sends Phil Salt back to the pavilion

Varun Chakravarthy made sure Salt could not make the most of the given lifeline, removing the English spinner for just 26 runs off 29 balls featuring two boundaries and a single six in Cuttack. Varun Chakravarthy claimed his first ODI wicket in the form of Salt to make an impressive start to his career in the 50-over format.

The mystery spinner delivered a clever leg break on a fuller length, tempting Phil Salt to go for a big slog. However, Salt mistimed the shot and sent the ball straight towards mid-on, where Ravindra Jadeja made no mistake in taking the crucial catch to provide the first breakthrough to the hosts.

Read Also: ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Mohammed Shami fitness update officially issued by India coach

India and England make changes to their XIs for the Cuttack ODI

Meanwhile, the Indian cricket team made two changes to their playing XI, while the England cricket team also made three changes for the ongoing second ODI in Cuttack. England’s Jacob Bethell was ruled out with a left hamstring injury that put his ICC Champions Trophy 2025 participation in doubt.

The hosts have dropped Yashasvi Jaiswal to accommodate Virat Kohli in the batting line-up while also resting Kuldeep Yadav as Varun Chakravarthy made his ODI debut against England in Cuttack. On the other hand, Jamie Overton replaced Bethell with England calling back Gus Atkinson and Mark Wood. Atkinson and Wood replaced Brydon Carse and Jofra Archer, who was rested for the game.

Speaking about the game, England have lost their two wickets for 102 runs against India. While Chakravarthy got rid of Salt, Ravindra Jadeja removed dangerous Ben Duckett for 65 runs off 56 balls laced with 10 boundaries at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack.