Sunil Gavaskar heaped praise on Axar Patel and Jasprit Bumrah after India’s thrilling victory over the England national cricket team in the semi-final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. India secured a nail-biting seven-run win to book their place in the final.
Speaking on Star Sports’ Amul Cricket Live, Gavaskar described Bumrah’s 18th over as a “masterclass in death bowling.” He called Bumrah a “once-in-a-century bowler,” highlighting his ability to deliver across formats and control crucial overs even under intense pressure.
Gavaskar also lauded Axar Patel’s outstanding fielding effort, especially his stunning running catch to dismiss Harry Brook. Axar sprinted nearly 24 metres while keeping his eyes on the ball to complete the catch. He also played a key role in Will Jacks’ run-out, displaying excellent cricketing awareness.
According to Gavaskar, Axar is developing into a complete cricketer. With his contributions in batting, bowling and fielding, he believes Axar can become one of India’s great players, much like Ravindra Jadeja before him.
Former spinner Piyush Chawla also praised Sanju Samson for his effortless batting, saying the wicketkeeper-batter makes difficult shots look easy with his timing.
India will now face the New Zealand national cricket team in the final on March 8, with hopes of lifting the T20 World Cup on home soil.
