All-rounder Axar Patel reached a remarkable milestone in his career on Friday as India took on England in the fourth T20I at the County Ground in Bristol. The southpaw became only the fifth Indian cricketer to play 100 T20Is, joining the likes of Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya, Virat Kohli, and Suryakumar Yadav.
Interestingly, Axar is the first Indian cricketer to have played 100 T20Is without ever captaining the team. He has served as vice-captain in several bilateral series, as well as during the T20 World Cup 2026 earlier this year at home, but has never led the side.
While Axar marked his 100th T20I appearance, former India captain Rohit Sharma holds the record for the most matches played for the country in the format. With 159 games, Rohit tops
the list, followed by Hardik Pandya (138), Virat Kohli (125), and Suryakumar Yadav (113).
Most T20I Appearances For India
| Player | Span | Matches |
|---|---|---|
| Rohit Sharma | 2007-2024 | 159 |
| Hardik Pandya | 2016-2026 | 138 |
| Virat Kohli | 2010-2024 | 125 |
| Suryakumar Yadav | 2021-2026 | 113 |
| Axar Patel | 2015-2026 | 100* |
Earlier, speaking to the BCCI.tv, Axar expressed that he had never thought that he would end up playing 100 T20Is for India.
“When I first played a T20I, I never imagined I would play 100 matches. This tour of England will be very special for me because, like in the second T20, I completed my 100 wickets and in the fourth T20, it’s my 100th match. So, it’s a very special day for me, and I am really enjoying the moment,” Axar said in a video posted by bcci.tv.
“It really feels good. Basically, as a player, when you achieve a milestone, I feel it’s not about me; I am not achieving this alone. You know that along with me, my teammates, my coaches, my family…So I think everyone has played a role in this journey of mine,” he added.
