Axar Patel delivered a standout performance for India D on the first day of the Duleep Trophy, rescuing his team from a precarious position of 48 for six to score 86 runs off 118 balls, ultimately leading them to a total of 164. His innings featured six sixes, with a particularly aggressive display against left-arm spinner Manav Suthar. Alongside his batting heroics, Axar also contributed with the ball, taking two crucial wickets to hinder India C's progress, who ended the day at 91 for four, trailing by 73 runs. The early collapse of India D's batting was marked by poor shot selections, with captain Shreyas Iyer and other key players failing to capitalize on their starts. Axar's resilience has drawn comparisons to his previous match-winning performances, solidifying his reputation as a crisis man for the Indian team. His overall contributions have bolstered his position for the upcoming Test series against Bangladesh.