Team India lost the second T20I of the three-match series against Sri Lanka on Thursday (January 5). However India lost the game by 16 runs yet Axar Patel won hearts of his fans as he scalped two wickets and crushed 65 runs off 31 balls.

He got a ton of commendation from the fans and previous cricketers for his excellent exhibition. Previous India player Wasim Jaffer additionally hailed Axar and said that on the off chance that he keeps on performing like this, he can undoubtedly fill-in the shoes of star all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, who has been absent from the activity after he got a physical issue in Asia Cup 2022.

"India are not missing Jadeja, who has been a wonderful player in every one of the three organizations. Be that as it may, since India have found Axar Patel, we are not blabbering about Jadeja since he's been away. Proceeds to show how great Axar has occurred as a cricketer. Fabulous. Right now, yes (Axar is India's No.1 turn all-rounder).

India are fortunate they have such a like-for-like substitution (for Jadeja) in Axar Patel. He's capitalizing on it in all organizations. He can bowl in the powerplay, which I feel Jadeja could do without. Axar can make it happen. Also, Assuming that he bats like this, it's begging to be proven wrong," expressed Jaffer on ESPNCricinfo. Further, Jaffer commended Axar for his upgrades with the bat and furthermore valued his strategy. "In the last game additionally, he's contributed gigantically with the bat.

Today (Thursday), he again showed the amount he has moved along. Gigantic enhancements in Axar as a player. He has a very decent strategy. We don't see him trudging an excessive number of balls. He's almost certain that when he associates, he will leave the recreation area. He focuses on the spinners, stops and hits it pretty straight too," he added. In the second T20I in Pune, group India had won the throw and selected to handle first.

Things didn't begin well for India as in the second over itself, pacer Arshdeep Singh bowled three sequential no-balls. Sri Lanka exploited it and started off very well. Umran Malik (3) and Axar Patel (2) shared five wickets together yet Lankan captain Dasun Shanaka made an unbeaten 56 off 22 balls, while wicket-guardian Kusal Mendis had hit a 31-ball 52 to control Sri Lanka to a forcing 206 for 6.

While pursuing, India's top request imploded as India lost five wickets with only 57 sudden spikes in demand for the board. It was then Axar (65), who sewed a 91-run stand with Suryakumar Yadav (51) and carried desires to the game.

Nonetheless, their endeavors went into vain as Sri Lanka got their keep down and Team India got limited at 190/8. The series is at present evened out at 1-1 and presently both the groups will face each other in the third and last T20I match on Saturday (January 7) in Rajkot.