It is a known fact in cricketing circles that MS Dhoni has an eye for spotting talent and grooming them to be match-winners. Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal and many others would vouch for the same. And, it was Dhoni who made a big prediction on current Team India star Axar Patel way before the rest of the world woke up to acknowledge his talent.
Axar made his international debut back in June 2014 in an ODI against Bangladesh in Mirpur. In the last few years, the cricketer has come into his own in both the batting and bowling departments. However, Dhoni had predicted a bright future for Axar way back in January 2015. Speaking after an ODI match in Australia, the then Indian captain had commented:
“Axar, we all know, can bat too. Tomorrow he can be as good as [Ravindra] Jadeja. With them, you can also have the option of playing two left-arm spinners if needed, depending on the opposition.
“We will have to see if Axar can be our death bowler. But if we can groom him, why not?” the former keeper-batter had added.
Axar has featured in 15 Tests, 71 ODIs and 83 T20I so far. In Test matches, he has picked up 57 wickets at an average of 19.66, with five five-fers. With the bat, he has scored 688 runs, with four fifties. In ODIs, he has 75 scalps and 858 runs. Looking at his T20I numbers, the 31-year-old has picked up 79 wickets at an economy rate of 7.25 and has scored 637 runs at a strike rate of 137.87.
When MS Dhoni struck three last-over sixes against Axar Patel in the IPL
Dhoni has been a mentor to many youngsters in the Indian team. However, in the IPL, he has given a tough time to a number of such players with his incredible hitting skills. Axar was also at the receiving end of the Indian legend’s brilliance with the willow in an IPL match many years ago.
In match number 53 of IPL 2016, played between Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings) and Rising Pune Supergiants (RPS) in Visakhapatnam, Dhoni clobbered three sixes off Axar in the last over of the match. Thanks to his heroics, RPS won the thrilling contest by four wickets off the last ball.
Chasing a target of 173, RPS needed 23 runs off the last over. Dhoni struck three magnificent sixes (including one off the last ball) and one four to lift the Supergiants to a memorable win. The keeper-batter was named Player of the Match for his stunning knock of 64*, which came off just 32 balls. The innings featured four fours and five sixes. Axar ended the game with figures of 1-43.
Edited by Renin Wilben Albert
