India vs West Indies: Axar Patel stakes claim for regular Team India berth

Playing one-dayers after almost five years, allrounder stakes claim for regular berth by powering India to series win against Windies"Signed, sealed and delivered by Axar Patel." Former West Indies fast bowler-turned commentator Ian Bishop couldn't have chosen better words, soon after Axar smashed a full toss from Kyle Mayers down the ground - when six was needed off three balls - to pull off a thrilling two-wicket win for India in the second ODI against West Indies at Port-of-Spain. The left-arm spinning allrounder's match-winning effort with the bat - 64 not out (35b, 4x4, 5x6) - which came on the top of an economical spell with the ball (1-40 in 9 overs in a high-scoring game) - helped India clinched the series 2-0. The third ODI at the same venue on Wednesday is now a dead rubber.

Read AlsoIndia vs West Indies, 2nd ODI: Axar Patel fires India to series-clinching win over West Indies

Axar Patel smashed a whirlwind unbeaten 35-ball 64, his maiden ODI fifty, as India scripted a sensational series-clinching two-wicket win over the West Indies in the second game. Set a stiff target of 312, the visitors were down to 205 for five in 38.4 overs but Patel revived India's chase with his

For those who aren't following this series due to lack of star power in the Indian side and a weak West Indies line-up, Axar's knock merits attention and will count amongst the better ones in a chase for India. When he walked in at No. 7, India, chasing 312, were 205 in the 39th over, needing 107 off 68 balls. With Shubhman Gill (43), Shreyas Iyer (63), Sanju Samson (54) all having failed to carry on for a big one, the visitors looked in danger of losing this one. Soon, they needed 100 in the final 10 overs. Conscious of the rising run rate,