Shreyas Iyer Fifty, Axar Patel’s Knock Steady India in Champions Trophy 2025
Shreyas Iyer scored a calm half-century under pressure. Axar Patel added a key 42. They teamed up to support India in the 2025 Champions Trophy against New Zealand. The match will be held at Dubai International Cricket Stadium. The duo built a key 98-run partnership for the fourth wicket. Then, Rachin Ravindra ended it by taking the wicket of Axar Patel.
Shreyas Iyer Brings Up a Gritty Half-Century
Shreyas Iyer had a tough start after losing early wickets. He played patiently and scored his fifty in 75 balls. This was his slowest half-century in ODIs. The Indian No. 4 showed strength against New Zealand’s strong attack. They anchored the innings and rotated the strike well.
Shreyas Iyer’s Half-Century at a Glance:
- Balls Faced: 75 (Slowest in ODIs)
- Key Partnership: 98 runs with Axar Patel
- Milestone Shot: Single to long-on
- Reaction: Acknowledged the crowd’s applause with a raised bat
Iyer’s innings started slowly, but it gave India needed stability. He handled spin well and stayed calm under pressure.
Axar Patel’s Aggressive Stroke Play Adds Momentum
Iyer anchored the innings, while Axar Patel attacked. He hit boundaries at key times. He showed his batting skill by mixing power with timing. He hit a fantastic six over extra cover and pulled a boundary over mid-wicket.
Axar Patel’s Key Moments:
- Biggest Shot: 77m six over extra cover (85.5 kmph flighted delivery)
- Boundary Play: Well-timed pulls and lofted drives
- Total Runs: 42 before dismissal
Rachin Ravindra Dismisses Axar Patel with Kane Williamson’s Stunning Catch
As the partnership grew strong, Rachin Ravindra stepped up. He dismissed Axar Patel for 42. Patel, attempting to guide a short delivery down the leg side, got extra bounce, resulting in a top-edge. Kane Williamson was at short fine leg. He backtracked and made a stunning one-handed catch. This gave New Zealand an important breakthrough.
Axar Patel’s Dismissal:
- Bowler: Rachin Ravindra
- Delivery: Shorter, spinning into leg stump
- Shot Attempted: Flick to leg side
- Fielder: Kane Williamson (One-handed catch at short fine leg)
India’s Highest 4th-Wicket Partnerships in Champions Trophy:
- 132 – Ajay Jadeja & Sachin Tendulkar vs Australia (1998, Dhaka)
- 98 – Axar Patel & Shreyas Iyer vs New Zealand (2025, Dubai) Today
- 82 – Shikhar Dhawan & MS Dhoni vs Sri Lanka (2017, The Oval)
With Patel’s dismissal, KL Rahul walked in at No. 6 as India looked to rebuild in the middle overs.
