'Can’t Think A Lefty Will…' Axar Patel After India's Series-Clinching Win Over Australia
Axar Patel celebrating an Australia wicket (AP Photos)
Indian all-rounder Axar Patel, in his bid for quick death-over runs, skied one towards long-on only to be dismissed for a first-ball duck against Australia in the fourth T20I of their five-match series. However, the cricketer made up for his batting failure with a sizzling three-wicket haul later in the Australian innings to help his side clinch the series in Raipur with a game to spare.
Fittingly adjudged the ‘Player of the Match’ for his bowling spectacle, Patel unveiled his pre-game mindset and bowling plans during the post-match presentation.
Axar Patel signifies importance of mental strength
Axar Patel, who collected just two wickets in the preceding three high-scoring games, claimed that he has been confident in his bowling since the opening match of the series. The 29-year-old added that he has been bowling according to his strength and is not much bothered about going for runs.
Patel also signified the importance of mental strength, stating that being mentally strong helps him to get prepared for the next match whenever he has a bad day on the field. He said:
“I was trying to flight the ball. I am bowling well since the first match. I know the ball is leaving the hand well. If there is an over that goes for runs so its not too stressful. There are other factors as well when you lose a match but I was just bowling at my strength and my 100%. If I do that and someone hits me for runs then you need to be mentally strong for the next game. You need to bowl stump to stump when there is dew and that's what we did.”
Axar Patel further added that he tries to avoid bowling in the batsmen’s arc as much as possible.
“You can't think that a lefty will hit me for runs, if you bowl in his arc, he will definitely hit you. You try a lot of things in practice but you are successfully executing new things on the field, it boosts your confidence.”
The ongoing series marks Axar Patel’s first set of international fixtures for Team India ever since he succumbed to a quadriceps strain at the 2023 Asia Cup in Sri Lanka a couple of months ago. The injury setback prompted him to skip India’s subsequent ODI series against Australia as well as the entirety of their World Cup 2023 campaign at home.
As players brace themselves for next year’s T20 World Cup in West Indies, one can expect Axar to find more opportunities in the Indian playing XI going ahead. The ‘Men in Blue’ will now face Australia in a dead-rubber fifth T20I in Bengaluru on December 3, which will be followed by an all-format tour of South Africa later this month.
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