Axar Patel scripts history, becomes 1st Indian spinner to take 100 T20I wickets

India’s left-arm spinner Axar Patel etched his name in the history books during the second T20I against England on Saturday, July 4, at Old Trafford, Manchester. Patel became the first Indian spinner to take 100 wickets in T20Is as he got the big wicket of Harry Brook during the match.

The left-arm spinner got the England captain caught down the leg side, sending him back to the pavilion on 39 (15) as the hosts lost their third wicket, chasing a target of 191. After not getting the on-field decision in their favour, Patel and wicketkeeper Ishan Kishan urged captain Shreyas Iyer to opt for DRS. The replays confirmed that Brook gloved the ball as it went into Kishan's gloves and became Patel's 100th victim in T20Is.

The left-arm spinner also became the fourth Indian overall to achieve the landmark after Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya. In his career so far, Patel has picked 100 wickets from 91 innings at an average of 21.59 and an economy of 7.37, with best figures of 3/9. 

Axar Patel registered economical figures of 4/20 from his four overs in the match, but his stunning bowling display couldn’t save India from a defeat. Jacob Bethell (76 off 46) played a magnificent innings to help England chase down the target of 191 in 19 overs.

England take a 1-0 lead in the series

He was deservedly adjudged Player of the Match for helping England take a 1-0 lead in the five-match series after the first T20I got washed out.

It was India's third successive defeat in completed matches under the leadership of new T20I captain Shreyas Iyer. Earlier, the Men in Blue suffered a 0-2 whitewash against Ireland, who registered their maiden series win over India.

They will now be desperate to make a comeback in the series in the third T20I to be played on Tuesday, July 7 at Trent Bridge, Nottingham.