New Delhi: As Virat Kohli approached his century against Pakistan in Dubai on Sunday, his batting partner Axar Patel remained focused and composed. He concentrated on staying calm, ensuring that Kohli didn’t lose his wicket at a crucial moment. Patel was determined to support the star batter in reaching his well-deserved milestone.
Axar Patel stepped in to bat with India requiring 19 runs for victory, while Virat Kohli remained unbeaten on 86. As the chase neared its conclusion, Axar found himself calculating the runs needed, hoping that Kohli would get enough deliveries to complete his 82nd century. Silently, he prayed for his partner to reach the milestone while ensuring India secured the win.
“Towards the end, even I was calculating a bit for his hundred (Even I was doing the math for his hundred towards the end). I was just hoping that I don’t edge the ball or something. So, it was quite fun,” Axar said in a video posted by ICC.
However, Kohli’s road to the three-figure mark became tricky when Hardik Pandya struck a few boundaries, and Shaheen Afridi delivered three wides in the 42nd over. At one stage, Axar was even booed for taking a single, as the crowd wanted Kohli to retain most of the strike.
“It was my first experience watching such a high-pressure game from the dressing room, where Virat bhaiya scored a century. I had a lot of fun, and the way he kept running between the wickets after fielding for 50 overs is proof of his fitness,” Axar added.
With commanding victories over Bangladesh and Pakistan, India are now almost assured of a place in the Champions Trophy semi finals. At one point, it seemed difficult for Virat Kohli to reach his century and achieve the milestone. Shreyas Iyer and Hardik Pandya were intent on finishing the game early, but Axar understood the fans’ expectations and played accordingly.
