Kane Williamson is too long in the tooth to get dragged into the debate over India getting to play the Champions Trophy final in Dubai.
Axar also patted fellow spinner Varun Chakravarthy (5/42) for coming up with a match-winning spell.
Spinner Varun Chakravarthy justified his selection with a five-wicket haul and bowled India to a 44-run victory against New Zealand.
Former New Zealand captain Kane Williamson has expressed confidence that Virat Kohli will have a 'big impact' on the fortunes of Royal Challengers Bengaluru in IPL 2025.
Virat Kohli continues to prove why he is one of the greatest ODI batters of all time, moving up to the fourth spot with 747 rating points in the latest ICC ODI rankings.
India's pace talisman Jasprit Bumrah's absence will certainly hurt India, but the team's quality batting and spin bowling make them title contenders alongside South Africa and Pakistan in the Champions Trophy.
Young blocked the first ball of the Abrar Ahmed over for a dot before sweeping the ball to square leg to bring up his century.
New Zealand opener Rachin Ravindra believes adapting to the conditions will be key to success in the Champions Trophy final against India in Dubai.
Durban's Super Giants claimed a dramatic two-run victory over Pretoria Capitals in their high-scoring SA20 season opener in Durban
Kane Williamson is the second New Zealand batsman after Glenn Turner to top the ICC Player Rankings for Test batsmen following a man of the match performance in the Hamilton Test against Sri Lanka, which helped the home side win by five wickets and take the series 2-0.
Tamilians and Keralites believe he is one of them, and people from Karnataka also consider him their hero.
Sunrisers Eastern Cape came up with a clinical performance with both bat and ball to register a 58-run bonus victory over Durban Super Giants in the SA20 match at Kingsmead.
'So there was some good fight there and they got some rewards late in the day. So yeah, I think both teams will be pleased with their efforts.'
A confident New Zealand side will be eager to seal a semi-final spot when they take on Bangladesh, who will be fighting for survival, in their Champions Trophy Group A match in Rawalpindi on Monday.
If CSK fails to win Friday's match against the Kolkata Knight Riders in Chennai, it could turn to be a historic new low for them. It could be the first time that CSK have lost three matches in a row at home.
From January 1, 2021 to September 9, 2024 -- during which Joe Root hit 17 centuries, Kane Williamson has hit, Steve Smith has made six tons but Virat Kohli has managed just two centuries.
India's Abhishek Sharma has surged to the second spot in the ICC Men's T20I Player Rankings for batters after a stunning 135-run innings in the fifth and final T20I against England.
Tom Latham and Kane Williamson led New Zealand's fightback with sparkling half-centuries as the Black Caps reached 255-4 on the rain-hit second day of their opening Test against Sri Lanka in Galle
Paarl Royals is the first time any team has gone unbeaten at home throughout the league phase of the competition
Virat Kohli and Steve Smith will be "dangerous" and "hungry" for runs in the remaining two Tests
Bumrah leads a competitive field, including South African speedster Kagiso Rabada (856) and Australian pacer Josh Hazlewood (851).
Yuvraj Singh posted a tender wish for Hazel Keech on her 37th birthday.
New Zealand opener Devon Conway has opted for a casual rather than central contract for the upcoming 2024-2025 season.
Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting believes South Africa has a slight edge over New Zealand in their Champions Trophy semifinal clash.
One of the most stylish batters, Rahul admitted that in his younger days he often tried to be something he was not.
Replacing a player of Kane Williamson's stature can be a daunting task but Will Young, who played a pivotal role in New Zealand's historic 3-0 Test series win in India, saw it as an opportunity to create his own mark
Out-of-form New Zealand opener Devon Conway will miss the third Test against England in Hamilton to remain at home for the birth of his first child this week
Axar Patel, once known as the 'poor man's Jadeja', has transformed into a crucial batting asset for India.
Their pre-tournament decision to fill the squad with five spinners drew a lot of flak from all corners, but it is now proving to be a masterstroke on the slow pitches in Dubai.
Stead said about Kane that he is a batter who rises for big occasions, calling him a "special player".
Who do you think should be part of India's playing XI against New Zealand in Sunday's final?
The Kiwi star showered praise on Root for the phenomenal display he has produced on the crease. He admitted that he is a fan of the Englishman and the other two members of the 'Fab Four', Virat Kohli and Steven Smith.
New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson expressed deep disappointment after his team's crushing 84-run defeat to Afghanistan in the T20 World Cup. He called for a quick turnaround and a stronger showing in their next match.
Srinivas Bhogle and Purnendu Maji list the 50 Most Valuable Players in the 2025 Champions Trophy.
Former New Zealand fast-bowling great Tim Southee is confident that the Black Caps' inexperienced bowling attack will do a wonderful job at the upcoming Champions Trophy after watching them perform impressively in the recently-concluded tri-series in Pakistan.
He is among the best in the world but New Zealand captain and batting mainstay Kane Williamson prefers to be modest and says he has "learnt watching Virat Kohli", terming the Indian swashbuckler a "great player". "Virat's a great player and his ability to dominate attacks through all three formats is very special. "Certainly that I admire, I love watching him play and learn from a player like that," the current World No.3 in the ICC Test rankings told reporters during a media interaction in New Delhi on Tuesday.
New Zealand took charge on the second day of the third Test by dismissing England for 143 and making 136/3 at close of play for an overall lead of 340.
IMAGES from the Champions Trophy Group A match played between Pakistan and New Zealand at the National Stadium in Karachi on Wednesday.
IMAGES from the Champions Trophy final played between India and New Zealand in Dubai on Sunday.
Kane Williamson hailed the T20 World Cup's expansion to 20 nations after co-hosts United States beat Pakistan on Thursday
© 2026 Rediff.com - Investor Information - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Sitemap - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances