Axar Patel is an Indian all-rounder who has played the fourth T20I between Australia and India on Thursday, November 6, at Carrara Oval in Queensland with an outstanding performance. The left handed batter made 21 out of 11 balls that were not hit and assisted with the ball as he hit two wickets with 20 runs in the course of his four over performance. He was the Player of the Match due to his heroics.
Axar Patel stated that the pitch conditions were not ideal for him and required additional focus and effort. He stated that he was not very bothered about his batting position and was determined to giving his all whenever given the opportunity.
“I got a chance because I went into bat at number 7, so I think I had a chance to get to know the wicket. After I spoke with the batters, they were saying that the wicket is not coming on… There was an unexpected bounce and the wicket was a little bit slower, so I just held my position and hit. I think whenever the team needs me that’s my preferred (batting) position. If I have an impact for my team, I think that’s the best game for me. I don’t think that number 6 or 7 is my preferred position,” said Patel in the post-match presentation.
He said that he stuck to his strategy of bowling during the game, and that he was always looking at the middle stump. He further mentioned that when he felt that his lengths were not coming out as he expected, he focused on pitching the ball relatively full and maintaining a wicket-to-wicket line to give himself wicket taking opportunities.
“I just go there and think about what my team needs now, I’ll do that. I was thinking that was the batters’ strength, so I was bowling according to my plan. If the batters are going to hit me down the line, then I can bowl in the middle-stump. Good length, 5-6m length and then if things are slipping from me, then I’ll just bowl an odd full one. So that’s my plan in these conditions, I think wicket to wicket is the most important thing.”
Axar Patel
