Ind vs NZ, 1st Test: Axar Patel new lead role? If the 1st Test against New Zealand is anything to go by, Axar Patel has no become India’s lead bowler in Test. In just four matches, he has returned with five five-wicket hauls, taking his tally to 32 wickets in four games. The likes of Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin could not match his figures but Patel says he is not thinking of a lead role. Instead, he wants to enjoy his cricket.
“I just look to enjoy my cricket, when I go to the ground I do not think about the other spinners in the team and I do not have the lead role. I am just focused on how the wicket is behaving. I do not think about other things, I am just looking to bowl in the right areas and how I can contribute to the team,” Axar Patel said at the post-match press conference.
Ind vs NZ, 1st Test: Axar Patel relishes dream start to Test cricket after fifth fifer but ‘not aiming lead role’
After struggling to get wickets on the second day, Axar Patel turned things around on Day 3. He led with the wickets of Ross Taylor, Tom Latham as New Zealand crumbled under pressure. He returned with the figures of 5/62 in 34 overs while Ravichandran Ashwin bagged three.
“It’s a dream start, in fact, this is a dream within a dream start for me. No, it (Test cricket) isn’t that easy. Was a hard grind today. They didn’t lose any wickets yesterday and the talk was to keep it tight, don’t try for wickets every ball, just look to be patient. I was sticking to the basics and using the crease a bit,” Axar Patel said.
Ind vs NZ, 1st Test: Axar Patel relishes dream start to Test cricket after fifth fifer but ‘not aiming lead role’
“My round-arm deliveries were getting something out of the track and I was optimising that a lot. That’s what worked for me. The track is getting slower and there has been more turn now. Variable bounce is also increasing but still think that runs can be made if the batters apply themselves,” Axar Patel added.
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| Format | Mat | Inns | Wkts | BBI | BBM | Ave | Econ | 4w | 5w |
| Test | 3 | 6 | 27 | 6/38 | 11/70 | 10.59 | 2.24 | 1 | 4 |
| ODI | 38 | 35 | 45 | 3/34 | 3/34 | 31.31 | 4.43 | 0 | 0 |
| T20I | 15 | 15 | 13 | 3/9 | 3/9 | 27.3 | 6.69 | 0 | 0 |
| T20 | 167 | 166 | 146 | 4/21 | 4/21 | 27.66 | 6.81 | 1 | 0 |
Ind vs NZ, 1st Test: Axar Patel relishes dream start to Test cricket after fifth fifer but ‘not aiming lead role’
As for the match, Resuming the third session at 249/6, the Kiwis were startled as Axar Patel dismissed Tom Blundell for just 13 runs in the 124th over and later Tim Southee in the 128th over.
Kyle Jamieson was looking like a last hope for the Kiwis as he was playing a firm innings but was later sent back by Ravichandran Ashwin, after scoring 23 runs. William Somerville was the last batter to depart after getting by Ashwin in the 143rd over.
Later coming to bat again, the hosts suffered a heavy shock as opener Shubman Gill was clean bowled by Jamieson in the second over of the innings. Cheteshwar Pujara along with Mayank Agarwal stood at the crease and kept the scoreboard moving.
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