Three Tests, three successive heavy England defeats and four five-wicket hauls for Axar Patel.
It was perhaps fitting England’s final batting collapse on a chastening tour of India was, once again, at the hands of India’s newest spin sensation.
Never before has an Indian spinner enjoyed such a productive debut series as Patel has against England.
From the moment he was handed his Test cap by India captain Virat Kohli on 13 February, he has tormented England’s batsmen, picking up 27 wickets at an average of just 10.59.
So who exactly is this almost-overnight sensation? From the mystery surrounding his name to a short yet impressive stint in county cricket, BBC Sport delves deeper into the 27-year-old’s journey to international stardom.
Born in the Anand district of the state of Gujarat, Patel – like many young boys and girls in India – grew up with a love for cricket, but playing professionally was not on the radar.
At the age of 15, however, his talents as a gifted batsman and seam bowler were noticed by peers, friends and, notably, his dad who encouraged Patel to take the sport more seriously.
Just three years later, in just his second first-class match, Patel gave us a glimpse into his future when he took 6-55 for Gujarat against Delhi.
Followers of his social media – he has more than 750,000 on Instagram alone – may notice he goes by the name Akshar, and there are conflicting reports as to the correct spelling and pronunciation of his name.
Some suggest a school principal spelt it wrong on an official form, while others say it was down to a clinical error from a nurse when he was born.
Regardless, Patel started to make a name for himself on the cricket field in 2013 when, aged 19, he was drafted by Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League.
Despite not playing a game for the franchise, Patel rubbed shoulders with the very best cricket had to offer, in a team which was captained by Australia batsman Ricky Ponting and included India greats Sachin Tendulkar and spinner Harbhajan Singh.
