Gulbadin Naib reveals bond with Axar Patel ahead of T20I series

Afghanistan all-rounder Gulbadin Naib has spoken about his close personal bond with India all-rounder Axar Patel ahead of the second T20I in Indore. Naib said the relationship extends beyond the field and has developed over several years of international cricket. The comments come as Afghanistan look to level the series after losing the opener in Delhi.

Naib did not elaborate on specific conversations but said the friendship helps both players maintain perspective during high-stakes matches. Axar has been a consistent presence in India's limited-overs setup since 2022. The two teams have met regularly across white-ball formats in recent cycles.

The series continues with India holding a 1-0 lead. Afghanistan have yet to beat India in a T20I completed match.