Asia Cup 2025: Axar Patel suffers head injury during Oman game, doubtful for Pakistan clash

Axar Patel could be doubtful for India’s Asia Cup Super-Four match against Pakistan in Dubai on Sunday after suffering an injury scare against Oman.

The all-rounder hit his head on the ground after running from mid-off and tumbling over during his failed attempt to take the catch of Oman batter Hammad Mirza in the 15th over of the chase.

Axar left the field and didn’t return for the rest of the match, which India won by 21 runs to maintain a perfect record in the group stage of the continental competition.

“Just now I have seen Axar, he looks fine now at this point in time. Everybody is geared up for the Pakistan game,” India’s fielding coach T. Dilip told reporters after the match.

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Axar bowled a solitary over, conceding four runs without picking a wicket, and struck a breezy 13-ball 26 in his first outing with the bat in the tournament.

In case Axar is forced to miss the match against Pakistan, India will be without a third specialist spinner, a strategy it has adopted on spin-friendly surfaces here.

Though Varun Chakaravarthy, along with Jasprit Bumrah, was benched for the Oman game in Abu Dhabi, it was done to facilitate game time for Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana, who missed the first two games.

Published on Sep 20, 2025