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Gavaskar Lauds Praise for 'Selfless' Axar Patel After Ahmedabad Astonishment

image-lf5m3mrfIND vs AUS: Axar Patel scored a 79 before getting bowled (AP Photo)

All the limelight may be on Virat Kohli in Ahmedabad. Still, the homegrown boy Axar Patel was no less on the recently concluded day of the ongoing Test match of the Border-Gavaskar trophy (BGT 2023).

Stretching his purple patch against Australia, the left-handed all-rounder joined forces with Kohli, who went to amass his 28th Test century in a match-turning partnership of 162 runs. But, unlike Kohli, it wasn't a happy ending for Axar as he fell 21 runs short of his maiden century.

In the last session of the day, the all-rounder dragged a delivery from Mitchell Starc onto his stumps while he was trying to accelerate the Indian innings. 

However, with his scintillating knock, the southpaw made the former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar a fan of his. 

"It was a selfless inning. He did the hard yards and then provided the acceleration for India in the final session," Sunil Gavaskar, commentating then in the game, said while signing praise for Axar.

The all-rounder may not be getting ample chances to showcase his wonders with the bat, but he has been unstoppable with the bat in the ongoing BGT 2023. Despite batting in the lower middle-order, he is the third-highest run-scorer with 264 runs already in the series. 

After today's play, the 29-year-old hinted at his mindset during the course of this Test series, saying he is "feeling good to have contributed with the bat."

"I had no set role, just wanted to make as many runs as possible, bat along with the ball not doing a lot. One you're set, it's easier to bat, the odd ball is turning and staying low, it's slightly difficult when you're new to the crease, but once you adjust, it's still easy to bat on this wicket," Axar said when asked about his role with the bat.

At Stumps on Day 4 at Ahmedabad, India have a lead of 88 runs as the game is still open for all three results. However, for it to go India's way, spinners - including Axar - will have to play a vital cog on the final day of the match.