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Tilak Varma, Axar Patel warrant a place in India ODI squad vs NZ with VHT 100s

Harsh Adwani

Tilak Varma and Axar Patel make a strong case for ODIs vs NZ [Source: @Saabir_Saabu01/x.com]Tilak Varma and Axar Patel make a strong case for ODIs vs NZ [Source: @Saabir_Saabu01/x.com]

India’s T20I vice-captain Axar Patel and star middle-order batter Tilak Varma have knocked at the doors of selectors ahead of the ODI series against New Zealand. The two stars of the Indian T20 team recently scored centuries in their recent games in the domestic One Day competition, the Vijay Hazare Trophy.

Patel, playing against Andhra, scored 130 runs in 111 balls, which included 10 fours and five sixes. He played a relatively quicker knock at number five. 

Varma, on the other hand, played a little more conservatively, scoring 109 runs in 118 balls while batting at number three against Chandigarh. He played at a strike rate of 92 as compared to Axar’s 117.

This is the first match for both these players in this year’s VHT and they have already started the domestic season with great knocks. Each of their innings was the best for their respective teams, and now they stand a chance to be included in India’s ODI setup.

Tilak Varma and Axar Patel make a strong case for NZ series

The Indian squad for the ODI series against New Zealand will be announced soon, and Tilak and Axar will be the top contenders for a place in the team. Some of the senior players are expected to be rested for the series, making Tilak and Axar’s case even stronger.

The Hyderabad-based cricketer was included in the ODI squad against South Africa and was in the XI for the final game but did not get a chance to bat, as Yashasvi Jaiswal’s ton and fifties by Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli sealed the game before he could take the strike.

As for Axar, he played the series against Australia in October but was left out from the series against the Proteas. 

He will be eager to return to the team and prove his worth in the longer white-ball format as well. Star all-rounder Hardik Pandya is expected to miss out, which means Axar Patel could grab the all-rounder’s spot in the team.

Are Axar Patel and Tilak Varma likely to play for India in ODIs?

While both these players stand a chance of being included in the squad, they are not guaranteed a spot in the Playing XI. Shreyas Iyer is expected to return to the side as well, which will make the scope for a position in the middle order even slimmer with Ruturaj Gaikwad also doing well in recent games.

As for the all-rounder spot, Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar are leading the ranks and even Nitish Kumar Reddy is in contention. When Hardik Pandya returns to the side, he will surely take up one spot in the XI, making only one spot for a spin all-rounder available.

Axar and Tilak will have to continue their consistency and make the most out of their place in the T20I setup if they are to further strengthen their case for a place in the ODI playing XI. For now, they at least deserve a chance to be included in the squad.