Top 3 bowling performances by Axar Patel in IPL

Axar Patel has been one of the most consistent all-rounders in Indian cricket. His contributions in recent times have been notable, both for India and Delhi Capitals. Delhi hugely relies on Axar to bring balance and depth to the squad. In this article, we will take a look at the top 3 bowling performances by Axar Patel in IPL.

#1. 4/21 vs Gujarat Lions, 2016

Axar Patel delivered his best bowling performance in the IPL in 2016 when he was a part of Kings XI Punjab. The left-arm orthodox bowled this spell against Gujarat Titans while defending a low total. Batting first, Punjab managed to post 154 runs which was not a challenging target considering the strength of Gujarat’s batting unit. However, Axar Patel made it really difficult for Gujarat to chase the target as he bowled economically and picked four wickets on top of it. Punjab eventually won the match and Axar was also awarded the player of the match for his bowling effort. 

#2. 3/11 vs Royal Challengers Bangalore, 2017

Here is another extraordinary bowling effort from Axar Patel which ensured Punjab’s victory over Royal Challengers Bangalore in a low-scoring encounter. In the first innings, Bangalore restricted Punjab to 138 runs and registered an edge in the contest. But Axar Patel neutralized that advantage with his outstanding bowling spell. The all-rounder bowled three overs and picked up as many wickets conceding only 11 runs. As a result, Punjab clinched the match by a narrow margin. 

#3. 3/21 vs Mumbai Indians, 2021

In the 2021 season, Delhi Capitals faced off with Mumbai Indians at Sharjah and this match was marked by Axar Patel’s match-winning effort with the ball. His bowling spell in the first innings helped Delhi prevent the opposition from putting on a mammoth total on the board. Axar scalped three important wickets which also included the dismissals of Suryakumar Yadav and Quinton De Kock. These blows did not let Mumbai gain momentum which resulted in a disappointing batting performance. In the end, Delhi won the match by 4 wickets and Axar had a vital role to play in that.