IND vs SL LIVE: Hardik Pandya needs to make some BIG Calls on India’s Playing XI vs. Asian Champions SriLanka in his very first game as India’s New T20 Captain at Wankhede Stadium. With so many options available at his disposal especially among all-rounders, Hardik’s task has become more challenging. One of the prime battles for the spot of all-rounders is between Deepak Hooda and Axar Patel. India will obviously prioritise having more all-rounders in their starting XI, but they must pick the correct ones. Now the ball is in the court of Pandya and Rahul Dravid whether they will go with Axar Patel or Deepak Hooda for the 1st T20 vs SL today. Follow India vs SriLanka 1st T20 LIVE updates with InsideSport.IN
IND vs SL LIVE: Hardik Pandya confused on who to pick from Axar Patel or Deepak Hooda in playing XI today? Hooda likely to get nod ahead of Axar: Follow IND SL 1st T20 LIVE
India would have a difficult time choosing between the two all-rounders. Deepak Hooda has been in and out of the team. However, seniors are more to blame than his performances. To shine, he needs a long rope from Team Management.
Axar Patel, though, has performed admirably in all three formats with both the bat and the ball. Axar is a player to watch out for with left-arm spin on the powerplay, despite the fact that he struggled in the T20 World Cup. Axar might be India’s batter to finish the match with Hardik and Washington Sundar batting at Nos. 5 and 6, respectively.
- Deepak Hooda has scored 302 runs in 12 innings in 2022.
- He has a century to his name beside a staggering strike rate of 150.24.
- Hooda has also picked up 5 wickets with an economy rate of just 4.57 in 6 innings.
- Axar Patel has scored 93 runs in 2022 in 12 innings. But he has faced only 67 balls in the year.
- With a 138.80 strike rate, he is not a bad option.
- He has also picked up 21 wickets including in the powerplay.
Axar Patel Stats in T20s
The leading candidate to replace Ravindra Jadeja as the all-rounder in Team India is Axar Patel. Axar participated in 22 T20I games in 2022. The left-arm spinner bowled at an economy rate of 8.17 and claimed a total of 21 wickets.
He had a respectable strike rate of 138.80 with the bat, scoring 93 runs. Axar bowls with left-arm spin, just like Jadeja, and may be quite useful in the middle overs. Axar has the ability to smash the balls hard with his bat, which is useful in the death overs.
Deepak Hooda’s Numbers in T20s
Deepak Hooda made his T20I debut in 2022. The right-handed hitter faced Sri Lanka in his first 20-over match, however, he was not given the opportunity to bat. Afterward, Hooda dominated the spotlight after scoring his first T20I century against Ireland. The 27-year-old played the last T20 match vs New Zealand.
Hooda has some remarkable 20-over format numbers. He has played in 15 games and has scored 302 runs with a fantastic strike rate of 150. In the game’s shortest format, he averages 33.56. He has only taken five wickets with the ball, but his 4.58 economy rate is astounding.
Axar or Deepak? Team Management will fancy Deepak for the 1st T20 as Axar has been tested out several times in the past. And now with the T20 reboot, management would like to take their chances on Hooda.
IND vs SL LIVE: Hardik Pandya confused on who to pick from Axar Patel or Deepak Hooda in playing XI today? Hooda likely to get nod ahead of Axar: Follow IND SL 1st T20 LIVE
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Editors pick
