India’s Spinner Breaks Silence On Hardik Pandya’s Anger In Champions Trophy Clash vs Pakistan

India’s left-arm spin all-rounder, Axar Patel, has broken the silence on making the crucial breakthrough of the Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan during the mouth-watering clash in the Champions Trophy 2025 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

The Rohit Sharma-led side enjoyed a convincing victory in their second successive fixture to potentially book their tickets for the semifinal, but their fielding wasn’t ideal on many occasions. In the last game against Bangladesh, both Rohit and Hardik Pandya dropped crucial catches, while Kuldeep Yadav’s dropped catch of Rizwan could have hampered their middle over.

Axar Patel leaks Hardik Pandya’s frustration against Pakistan

Mohammad Rizwan and Saud Shakeel had stabilized the innings after India’s twin strike early on of both the openers, as they found the Green Brigade at 47/2 in the 10th over. The pair had carefully dealt with the three Indian spinners in the middle overs but took to set a foundation.

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India was at a stage of must-needed wicket when the defending champions brought the 150-run mark in their innings for the loss of just two wickets. They got a golden opportunity when Rizwan tried to slog Pandya in the 33rd over to get the ball in the air, as Harshit Rana failed to hold onto the ball in the deep.

In the very next over, the Indian spinner outfoxed Rizwan with a slower flighted delivery, as the Pakistan captain used his feet but failed to read the deviation of the ball.

“A plan was in place. Just a ball before, a catch was dropped off Hardik's bowling. And when I saw him, Hardik was really angry. When I came onto bowl, I didn't think that he would charge at me the very first ball, so I bowled it real slow.” Axar Patel expressed this in a video on ICC’s official Instagram account

“He must have thought that on that pitch, I would hit the length instead of flighting it up, but I bowled it slow because they were looking to rotate the strike. So, I think I am very lucky that I was involved in both breakthroughs.” The spin all-rounder added.

Axar drew the first blood as he attempted a direct hit to send the opening batter, Imam Ul Haq, back to the pavilion.

Axar Patel highlights Kuldeep Yadav’s return from injury for India

One of the several positives for India was the superb return in international cricket of their left-arm wrist spinner, Kuldeep Yadav, who struggled to find rhythm in the recent home ODI series against England. However, he made a cracking comeback in the Champions Trophy in the last two games against Bangladesh and Pakistan.

“When you return from an injury, it takes some time to get back to full tilt. You find the rhythm only after playing matches. I think he was out for close to 3-4 months, then he played a couple of matches. He was trying hard in practice to find rhythm like before.” Axar Patel addressed.

Kuldeep picked up three wickets in the first innings for 40 runs in nine overs at an economy rate of 4.4.

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“Today, you could see that he was not at his best until the 40th over. But all my teammates went up and spoke to him and kept backing him by telling him that they would do it for us. Then you saw how he bowled after the 40th over. He got his rhythm back, he was bowling it slower in the air, was also bowling his natural variations, and looked confident too.” The Gujarat spinner concluded.

Virat Kohli seals the deal against Pakistan with 51st ODI century

Virat Kohli stood out in the 242-run chase, as he remained unbeaten on 100 runs to earn the fifth Player of the Match award against Pakistan. The victory has almost booked their place in the semifinal.

India will face New Zealand in their last group-stage clash on March 02 at the same venue.