New Delhi: The Indian squad has multiple headline-makers. Hence, Axar Patel and Shivam Dube walked into the T20 World Cup 2026 more like dependable side characters than the main leads. Their contributions often flew under the radar, hidden behind bigger names such as Jasprit Bumrah or Varun Chakaravarthy. However, throughout India’s World Cup campaign, the two played the classic “underdog role”, stepping up when it mattered most.
Their contributions might not make the record books or fetch awards, but they deserve to be remembered for years to come. After all, big matches are often decided by small moments: a catch, a late burst of runs, or a crucial wicket at the right time.
This duo has repeatedly delivered in those moments. Never chasing records or personal milestones, they have quietly strengthened the Indian side through their performances. As India celebrates its third T20 World Cup title, it is only fitting that the spotlight also falls on these two underdogs.
Dube smashed 24 runs off James Neesham’s 20th over, pushing India’s total to 255 for five against New Zealand in Ahmedabad on 8 March.
Before Dube walked onto the field, India’s innings were losing momentum. Despite an ideal start, the team had lost four wickets in quick succession, and the runs had slowed.
But Dube’s power-packed cameo with an unbeaten 26 off just 8 balls was instrumental, even if it will soon be forgotten. For him, this isn’t something new. He has always been a silent contributor.
It wasn’t the first time he had played such a crucial role in the tournament. In the do-or-die Super 8 clash against West Indies, he struck two boundaries at a tense moment, easing the pressure on Sanju Samson at the other end and helping India regain control of the chase.
And like all his other contributions, this, too, would have been overlooked had Head Coach Gautam Gambhir not highlighted the importance of such contributions.
“For me, Dube’s two boundaries are as important as Samson’s 97 because if he hadn’t hit those two boundaries, you wouldn’t have even spoken about it. The big contribution makes headlines. The small contributions that can help the team win, cross that line, are very important,” said Gambhir in the post-match presentation.
In an earlier match against the Netherlands, Dube had delivered one of his most impactful performances. Walking in during a tricky phase, he smashed 66 off 31 balls, his highest score of the tournament, to propel India to a competitive total. India eventually won the match, with Dube earning the Player of the Match award for his effort.
In the semi-final against England, he once again played the role of the finisher to perfection. Dube smashed 43 runs off just 25 deliveries.
Throughout the tournament, while India’s top order, led by Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan, often grabbed the spotlight, Dube quietly made his presence felt in the closing stages of the innings.
Though as soon as skipper Suryakumar Yadav tosses him the ball, the stats start to sink. The reason is evident, with the ball, Dube has taken five wickets at a high economy rate of 13.28 across seven matches.
While is bowling may not be up to par, one cannot deny that time and again, Dube stepped in towards the end to add crucial runs, pushing India into winning positions.
Also Read: India ‘repeat & defeat history’ with third T20 World Cup win. Only team to defend crown
Silent match winner
Meanwhile, Axar Patel has quietly been one of India’s most important players in the tournament. His bowling has been outstanding, picking up 11 wickets in the T20 World Cup 2026.
In the final as well, he delivered by claiming three key wickets, including one of New Zealand’s Finn Allen, who had earlier smashed a 33-ball century against South Africa in the semi-final. Patel also successfully got Glenn Phillips and Daryl Mitchell to leave the field early in the match, keeping the opposition on its toes.
But his impact hasn’t been limited to bowling alone. Patel’s fielding has been just as impactful. In the final, Kishan grabbed the attention with two spectacular catches to dismiss Tim Seifert and Mitchell. However, it was Patel’s brilliance in the field that helped India reach the semi-final in the first place.
During the semi-final against England in Mumbai, Patel produced two remarkable catches on the field that proved crucial in India’s seven-run victory. In the fifth over, he completed a stunning catch to dismiss Captain Harry Brook, covering nearly 24 metres while running backwards. Later, in the 14th over, he pulled off another extraordinary effort, catching Will Jacks while running to his left and quickly throwing the ball to Dube just before losing his balance and sliding over the boundary line.
Cricket statistics often highlight the obvious heroes, the highest run getter or the leading wicket-taker. The recent semi-final will likely be remembered for Sanju Samson’s match-winning 89 off 42 balls and England’s Jacob Bethell, whose 105 off 48 balls stint nearly spoiled India’s victory.
But they can sometimes hide the smaller contributions that play a huge role in deciding a match. Years later, Patel’s fielding might appear as brief footnotes on a scorecard, or sometimes not appear at all. Yet for those who watched the game, such moments of brilliance are often the real turning points. Patel’s two fielding efforts, especially the relay catch, turned out to be key in India’s seven-run win.
Beyond these moments, Patel’s overall skillset makes him incredibly valuable to the team. As a bowler, he is intelligent and adaptable, keeping tight wicket-to-wicket lines on flat pitches while extracting turn and bounce when conditions allow.
With the bat, he is versatile enough to play different roles, attacking during the Power play if promoted, stabilising the innings during a collapse, or finishing strongly at the death.
It will be a big statement to make, but Patel doesn’t let India miss the brilliance of Ravindra Jadeja.
Both Dube and Patel may not always command the same aura as stars like Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya or Virat Kohli. But their contributions highlight a quieter brilliance, the kind that doesn’t always dominate headlines but quietly does the heavy lifting that wins matches.
(Edited by Insha Jalil Waziri)