Axar Patel (born 20 January 1994) is an Indian cricketer, a left-arm spin bowler and hard-hitting lower-order batter. He took 27 wickets in his first three Tests, against England in 2021. Promoted up the order in the final of the 2024 T20 World Cup, he scored 47 to rescue India after early wickets. He captains Delhi Capitals in the IPL and has been vice-captain of India’s T20 team.
Quick Facts
| Full name | Akshar Rajeshbhai Patel |
| Born | 20 January 1994, Anand, Gujarat, India |
| Age | 32 |
| Hometown | Nadiad, Gujarat |
| Role | All-rounder (left-arm orthodox spin, left-hand bat) |
| International debut | ODI June 2014, T20I July 2015, Test February 2021 |
| Domestic team | Gujarat |
| IPL teams | Kings XI Punjab (2014–2018), Delhi Capitals (2019–; captain from 2025) |
| Spouse | Meha Patel (m. 2023) |
| Children | 1 (Haksh) |
Early Life
Patel grew up in Nadiad. He was a good student who hoped to become a mechanical engineer and took up cricket seriously only at 15, when a friend asked him to play in a school tournament. His name is spelt “Akshar” in Gujarati; a school principal wrote “Axar” on his leaving certificate, and the spelling stayed on his passport.
Career
He was named emerging player of the 2014 IPL with Kings XI Punjab and made his ODI debut in Bangladesh that June. For several years he was in and out of the team as cover for Ravindra Jadeja, whose skills were very similar.
With Jadeja injured, Patel made his Test debut against England in Chennai in February 2021. In the day-night Test at Ahmedabad he took 11 wickets for 70 runs. His 27 wickets in three matches were a record for an Indian in a debut series. He took wickets at a similar rate against New Zealand later that year and reached 50 Test wickets in fewer balls than any other Indian.
In the semi-final against England he took 3 for 23 and was Player of the Match. In the final in Barbados, sent in at number five with India 34 for 3, he hit 47 off 31 balls in a partnership with Virat Kohli. He was also part of the team that won the 2025 Champions Trophy, batting at number five throughout.
Personal Life
Patel married Meha, a dietitian, in January 2023, and their son, Haksh, was born in December 2024. His team-mates call him “Bapu”.
Major Titles
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where was Axar Patel born?
Axar Patel was born on 20 January 1994 in Anand, Gujarat, India and is 32 years old.
What is Axar Patel’s role?
Role: All-rounder (left-arm orthodox spin, left-hand bat).
Featured image: Axar Patel at an anti-drug campaign event, November 2017. Photo by Anand Anil, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
