India cricket team head coach Gautam Gambhir justified promoting Axar Patel above KL Rahul in the batting-order during IND vs ENG ODI series. Lot of former cricketers had objected to the move, claiming that the Karnataka’s batters confidence was being undermined by the move. However, Gambhir has categorically stated that Axar will continue to bat above Rahul and has said that it is the way to go about in the future as well.
Axar over Rahul all but permanent?
Speaking at the post-match press conference, Gambhir said that “that’s the way cricket is meant to be played”. The Indian coach stated that it was not about the batting order but more about who could create an impact. He heaped praise on Axar for delivering on both occasions that he was promoted up the order.
“That’s the way cricket is meant to be played. I know a lot of people talk about it, but that’s the way we got to play the game, and that’s the way cricket should be played. It’s not about the batting order, it’s about who can create what impact,” Gambhir said.
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Gambhir further questioned the need to have only right-handers as the top five batters. He categorically stated that the left-right combination was here to stay and will be followed in the future as well.
“Why would you want to have top five as right-handers? We don’t look at averages and stats and all that stuff. We look at who can deliver more at that number. And Axar has done fabulously well. Both the games [in which] he got the opportunity, he delivered for us. I know there will always be talk – there will always be people talking about it – but I think that’s the way we want to go in future as well,” Gambhir added.
Axar did well with the bat on both the occasions where he was promoted above Rahul. In the IND vs ENG 1st ODI, he slammed a fine half-century. In the 2nd ODI in Cuttack, he remained unbeaten on 41. However, in the 3rd ODI, India decided to let Rahul bat at his usual number five position while Axar came in at number seven.
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