Indian all-rounder Axar Patel has etched his name into the record books of T20 cricket. Playing in the fourth T20 match against New Zealand on 30 October, the left-arm spinner claimed his 300th wicket in the format. With this landmark, he became the very first Indian all-rounder to complete the rare T20 double of more than 3000 runs and 300 wickets. Patel secured this personal milestone by dismissing New Zealand opening batter Finn Allen. Although India suffered an 87-run defeat in this high-scoring encounter, the national side maintains an unassailable 3-1 lead in the five-match bilateral series after having won the opening three fixtures consecutively.
Joining an Elite Global Club of Legendary All-Rounders
Amassing over 3000 runs while also capturing 300 wickets in T20 cricket is an exceptionally rare statistical feat accomplished by only a select few players worldwide. Axar Patel now stands alongside prominent international stalwarts who have achieved this milestone, including West Indian stars Sunil Narine and Andre Russell, as well as Afghan leg-spinner Rashid Khan. Over the course of 345 T20 appearances, Patel has established himself as a reliable performer across franchise and international setups. Alongside claiming 300 wickets, he has compiled a total of 3818 runs at a batting average of 21.94 and a striking rate of 134.43, registering 9 half-centuries in the process.
New Zealand Post Record Total as India Fall Short in Fourth T20
Patel had a quiet outing with the bat during the fourth clash, scoring only 7 runs before being dismissed by New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner. The match was dominated by the explosive batting of New Zealand middle-order batsman Glenn Phillips, who hammered a blistering 107 runs off just 49 deliveries. He found able support in Michael Bracewell, who plundered 65 runs from a mere 25 balls. Together, the pair forged an aggressive 115-run stand for the fifth wicket, propelling New Zealand to a colossal total of 259 for 7.
That total stands as the highest ever scored by any team against India in men's T20 International cricket. Tasked with mounting a daunting chase, the Indian batting unit failed to build sustained momentum and folded to 172 for 9 in their allocated 20 overs. Despite the lopsided 87-run loss, India remain comfortably ahead in the series standings courtesy of their commanding performances in the preceding matches.
