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Axar Patel Compares Rohit Sharma And Hardik Pandya's Captaincy In T20Is

image-lrbny7zvAxar Patel with Rohit Sharma during first T20I vs AFG (BCCI)

Axar Patel bowled his way to an emphatic victory for Team India over their Afghanistan counterparts in the first T20I of their three-match series. The left-arm spinner halted Afghanistan’s top-order blitzkrieg by snapping Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Rahmat Shah in quick succession, and conceded just 23 runs off his four overs.

Unlike the past 14 months, Axar played under the leadership of regular skipper Rohit Sharma, who made his return to the format through the game in lieu of this year’s 2024 T20 World Cup. Hardik Pandya, who is currently out of action owing to an untimely injury, helmed the side in Sharma’s absence instead.

After India’s six-wicket win over Afghanistan at Mohali, Axar was asked about what it means playing two different captains, and if there was any differences between Sharma and Pandya’s leadership.


Axar Patel on Sharma and Pandya’s T20I leadership

When asked about playing under two different T20I captains for Team India, Axar Patel claimed that there is not much difference between Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya because they both have given him freedom to executive his plans and set his own fields. He said:

"There is no difference. Both have given me freedom. They tell me to execute my plan first. They know my strengths and they allow me to set my own field. And if my plans doesn’t work, they interfere. So, as a player I really didn’t find any difference."

Axar also talked about his comeback from injury, the one which prompted him to miss the entirety of the 2023 World Cup in India. The 30-year-old stated that he used his time to improve and make adjustments to his bowling at the National Cricket Academy.

The star cricketer will now be seen reprising his all-round duties for Team India in the second T20I against Afghanistan on January 14. The match will be hosted by the Holkar Stadium in Indore.