Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra showered praise on Axar Patel’s fielding after India clinched a seven-run win against England in the second semifinal of the T20 World Cup 2026 at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai on Thursday.
Patel took a stunning catch of Harry Brook while running back after the England skipper was bamboozled by a slower delivery from Jasprit Bumrah. The all-rounder ran 24 meters from his original position and took a brilliant catch to put India in front.
Subsequently, Jacob Bethell and Will Jacks were going strongly for England but the latter was dismissed after Patel took another superb catch. As the momentum was taking Patel over the boundary line, he relayed the ball to Shivam Dube.
“Angrezon Bharat chhodo, can that happen without Bapu? In fact, when Salt got out first, it came to my mind, and I said, England, Salt, Bapu, we have seen this earlier as well. Axar Patel took that catch first, and then the catch he took off Brook while running backwards, I thought that was one of the best catches. He had to cover a very long distance,” Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.
The renowned commentator said England would have won if Patel had not taken Will Jacks’ catch.
“Then, at one stage, when it seemed like Jacob Bethell and Will Jacks’ partnership was going very well, what a catch he took in the deep. He covered a lot of area, held the ball, and passed it to Shivam Dube. I think it was an incredible catch. If that wicket hadn’t fallen, they would have chased it down. This guy was actually dropped in Ahmedabad,” he observed.
The former Delhi cricketer said Patel’s catch of Harry Brook reminded him of Kapil Dev’s catch of Sir Viv Richards in the 1983 World Cup final.
“After watching Brook’s catch, it reminded me of Kapil Dev’s catch in the 1983 World Cup. He also ran back like that, and it was a difficult catch. When there are lights above and you are running backwards, especially when it’s the new ball, it’s not that easy to catch,” he said.
“Axar Patel held that catch, and in the second catch, Dube also did a very good thing. He was close to him. Many times another fielder is not close to you, and you concede two runs. Even in bowling, Axar dismissed Tom Banton after being hit for three sixes, and then two catches at crucial times,” Chahal observed.
India will take on New Zealand in the T20 World Cup final at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, on Sunday.
