Axar Patel's stunning relay catch to Shivam Dube dismisses Will Jacks in IND vs ENG T20 World Cup semis; watch video
Axar Patel sprinted in, plucked the ball mid-air while running at full pace, and felt his momentum carry him toward the ropes. Showing razor-sharp awareness, Axar tossed the ball back just before crossing the boundary. Shivam Dube, converging quickly, took a simple catch to complete the relay.
In a high-stakes thriller at Wankhede Stadium, Axar Patel and Shivam Dube combined for one of the most breathtaking moments of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 semi-final between India and England. This relay catch ended Will Jacks' aggressive knock and gave India a vital breakthrough in England's chase.
Stunning teamwork by Axar Patel and Shivam Dube in the deep
In the 13.6 over, Arshdeep Singh bowled a wide full toss outside off to Will Jacks. The England batter reached out and sliced it off the toe-end toward deep point. India had two fielders positioned perfectly at the boundary, Axar Patel and Shivam Dube, and they combined superbly to pull off a relay dismissal.
Axar, showing incredible awareness, sprinted to his left, plucked the ball on the run near the ropes, and lost balance but stayed mindful of the cushion. Without panicking, he tossed it back toward the converging Shivam Dube, who completed the catch with ease. Jacks departed for 35 off 20 balls (4 fours, 2 sixes), ending a dangerous 77-run stand with Jacob Bethell.
Suryakumar Yadav rushed over to embrace Axar, as the Wankhede crowd erupted. At 172-5 after 14 overs, England needed 82 from 36 balls, with Bethell fighting on 74.
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Impact on the high-scoring contest
India had posted a massive 253/7 earlier, powered by Sanju Samson's explosive 89 and contributions from Shivam Dube (43) and others. This wicket slowed England's momentum in a chase that demanded big hitting. Axar's fielding brilliance, adding to his earlier efforts in the tournament, highlighted India's all-round strength in pressure situations.
Fans flooded social media, calling it a "game-changer" and praising the duo's quick thinking. In T20 cricket, especially World Cup knockouts, such athletic moments often separate winners from losers.
Match result
India held their nerve in the death overs, restricting England to 246/7 in 20 overs and winning by 7 runs to storm into the T20 World Cup 2026 final. Axar’s athleticism, combined with Dube’s composure, proved the turning point in a match packed with big hits and high drama. This relay catch will be replayed for years as a classic example of how fielding can play a pivotal role in such high-stakes matches.
The Men in Blue will now face New Zealand in the summit clash on the Sunday (March 8), at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
About the Author
Aachal Maniyar is a Senior Content Producer at LiveMint, where she covers US sports with a focus on major leagues, marquee events, and athlete-driven stories, while also reporting extensively on cricket and global sports. With over five years of first-hand journalism experience, she combines sharp editorial judgment with real-time sports storytelling across platforms. <br><br> Her reporting journey spans leading newsrooms including Thomson Reuters, India TV, BTVI, ET NOW, and CNBC TV18, where she has worked across breaking news, live match coverage, feature writing, interviews, video scripting, and anchoring. This multi-platform exposure has shaped her ability to deliver context-rich sports and business journalism tailored for both television and digital audiences. <br><br> Aachal has conducted and produced exclusive interviews with athletes and public figures such as India cricketer Dhruv Jurel, Indian women’s hockey captain Savita Punia, and industrialist Ratan Tata, along with several emerging and established sports personalities. Her body of work includes in-depth explainers, athlete profiles, emotionally resonant fan narratives, and data-backed match analysis across cricket, Olympic sports, and international competitions. <br><br> She holds a Master’s degree in Journalism from Symbiosis Institute of Media and Communication, Pune, and believes in reporting that is grounded in accuracy, clarity, and credibility. Her philosophy is simple: sports journalism should go beyond scores and statistics, capturing the human stories, pressure moments, and decisions that shape the game and the people who play it.
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