Axar Patel says patience and self-belief were key to his match-winning all-round display as India defeated England by six wickets in the first ODI.
India's Axar Patel celebrates after scoring a half-century during the first ODI match between India and England at Edgbaston Cricket Ground in Birmingham, England, on Tuesday, July 14, 2026. (Photo: IANS)
India all-rounder Axar Patel said patience, self-belief and trusting the conditions were key to his match-winning performance in the opening ODI against England at Edgbaston, where he starred with both bat and ball to help India seal a six-wicket victory and take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
Axar returned figures of 4-62 before scoring an unbeaten 57, stitching together an unbroken 102-run partnership for the fifth wicket with Washington Sundar to guide India home after the early departures of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.
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The left-hander said the knock was particularly satisfying after enduring a difficult T20I series, where he felt he had been trying to force the pace.
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“It was very important for me to deliver this kind of performance. As for my mindset, I needed to keep at it. I had to stay focused rather than thinking it would just happen on its own. I had to have self-belief and execute my plans.
“I feel like I was trying to hit the ball too hard during the T20Is. When you go in to bat in the death overs, you don’t have any other option but to go for big shots, but I was losing my shape a little.
“So, when I went in to bat in this game, after we got a great start, I just wanted to build a partnership. I wasn’t trying to hit the ball too hard because I knew I had time and could afford to take a few balls. I was focusing on my timing. On this kind of wicket, it is very important to trust the bounce. Once you start reading it well, I think you can score runs,” Axar told JioStar.
India’s chase was briefly derailed after Rohit and Virat fell cheaply, while Shubman Gill retired hurt after scoring 80. Axar and Sundar then steadied the innings before taking India comfortably over the finish line with an unbeaten century stand.
Explaining his approach, Axar said batting became considerably easier once a batter had settled at the crease, with the new ball offering plenty of assistance to England’s seamers.
“If you look at their innings, or even our innings, whoever was new to the crease found it very difficult to come in and start hitting straight away. Even for them, it became easier for Joe Root and Liam Dawson once the partnership was set. So I think spending some time at the crease after coming in to bat was very important.
“On such wickets, you cannot come in and play shots on the rise immediately because there was bounce, and it was swinging and seaming as well. You have to give yourself that little bit of time, and after that, you could play your shots,” he added.
England faced similar struggles after electing to bat. The hosts slumped from 61 without loss to 80 for five before Joe Root and Liam Dawson revived the innings with a 121-run partnership. Axar then returned to clean up the lower order, finishing with four wickets as England were bowled out for 258.
The all-rounder also credited the return of India’s senior players for fostering a settled and confident dressing room.
“Obviously, we have been playing alongside each other for a long time. Over time, you form a strong camaraderie, and that brings confidence because we have won a lot of matches together, and we’ve lost a few as well.
“But that confidence is there because everyone knows their roles and what they need to do. There is unity, the team gels well together, and you can see that on the field too, with the banter and fun everyone was having. It creates a very relaxed atmosphere,” he said.
India will head into the second ODI with a 1-0 lead after Axar’s influential all-round performance laid the foundation for a convincing victory at Edgbaston.
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