Ace spinner Axar Patel offered a quirky reply on change in bowling technique after a match-winning spell in IND vs AUS 4th T20I. Not so long ago, Axar missed the World Cup after suffering an injury and when Murali Karthik asked about the subtle change in technique, he responded saying, “Itne din ghar pe tha na, toh kuchh naya try kar rha tha” (I was trying a lot of things when I was at home).
The left-arm spinner bowled with extreme control as he finished with superb figures of 3/16 in his allotted four overs. To note, Axar Patel was not a part of the World Cup squad and will also not feature in the upcoming IND vs SA T20 fixture starting this month. However, his efforts with the ball meant that team India clinch the series against Australia in Raipur on Friday.
“I was trying a lot of things when I was at home and it came out well today. I tried to stick to my strengths and wasn’t really bothered even I had gotten hit and bowling stump-to-stump was the key to negate the dew factor,” Axar Patel said in the post-match presentation.
To stay attacking and be mentally strong is important as there is every chance to get hit in this format. When you go with an attitude to pick wickets, will feel much better. During the (injury) break I focused on improving myself and add new variations to my bowling to remain successful at the highest level,” added. Axar.
Jadeja over Axar once again
With only a few T20Is left before the T20 World Cup, Axar Patel has not been picked for the IND vs SA T20 series. However, Ravindra Jadeja who has not been a consistent member of the T20 squad was named for the upcoming series. Apart from the international arena, Axar Patel also impressed in the last concluded IPL 2023 edition, scoring over 200 runs in the finisher role and also doing well with the ball.
However, still, Jadeja has got a go-ahead, despite playing limited T20Is. Axar now has it wait for his turn, and hope he gets a nod for the last T20 series before the World Cup – against Afghanistan. If the Southpaw still does not get selected for that series, then only a good IPL 2024 season will help him back in the reckoning.
Speaking about Axar Patel’s T20 numbers, the left-arm spinner has scalped 44 wickets in 49 games. He also has an impressive economy rate of 7.50. With the bat, Axar Patel has amassed 330 runs at an excellent strike-rate of 144.10. The left-handed batter also has a fifty to his name in the 20-over format.
Editors pick
