IND vs NZ Live: Axar Patel opens up on batting abilities- Ahead of the upcoming tour of South Africa, Team India all-rounder Axar Patel feels that he has improved in the batting department besides excellent bowling performance. Axar on Sunday smashed 41 runs in just 26 balls as India declared at 276/7 to set a mammoth target for New Zealand. His innings featured 3 boundaries and 4 sixes as India set a daunting task for the Kiwis with a target of 540 runs. Follow India vs New Zealand LIVE updates on InsideSport.IN
IND vs NZ Live: Axar Patel opens up on batting skills ahead of South Africa tour, says, ‘Team has belief in my abilities’
“The way I batted in the England tour and the way I am batting right now, Team has belief in my abilities,” said Axar, who had scores of 52 and 41 not out in this Test, said after third day’s play.
“On a previous occasion I had failed to leave a mark but now I converted those chances. And when me, Ashwin and Jadeja all three plays in a game, our batting becomes strong. So its a good sign for the team,” he added.
Axar Patel is well aware of the fact that R Jadeja and R Ashwin are front runners to play in South Africa where Team India will not play three spinners like in the sub-continent conditions. Axar’s batting performance would be of advantage in case Jadeja or Ashwin miss a game due to an injury or other reasons.
“The batting coach (Vicky Rathour) and team management have faith in my batting abilities, and they have always told me that ‘you can do it’. Earlier, when I got chances, I couldn’t convert my starts but this time when I got chances, I was able to convert.
“My batting is benefitting my team and if you see that myself, Jaddu and Ash bhai play as all-rounders, it releases a bit of pressure on our batters, so it’s a good sign. As long as I keep contributing it’s good for both me and my team,” he stated.
But with the South Africa series on the anvil, Axar knows that he might have to sit out and he is ready to bide his time.
“Team management discusses with us and they tell us whether we fit in a team combination or not. Whatever is the priority for the team is done and we just tell ourselves that we should focus on our routines and how we can keep improving,” said Axar, showing that he was practical in his thought-process.
When asked Axar about his camaraderie with all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, he said, “It’s (to bowl wicket to wicket) natural. Whenever I communicate with Jaddu bhai (Jadeja), I ask him about the mental aspect of the game. Similarly in the batting too, we talk about how can we accelerate when we are set or whom to target.”
IND vs NZ Live: Axar Patel opens up on batting skills ahead of South Africa tour, says, ‘Team has belief in my abilities’
IND vs NZ LIVE: Axar Patel on bowling performance- Axar Patel was equally delighted with his bowling performance. He had taken 27 wickets in 3 Tests against England earlier this year.
“Actually, this has been my dream year, you can say. The way I bowled in England series and now how the New Zealand series panned out, in between there was IPL so I can say that this has really been a good year for me personally,” he said
“My endeavour is to keep improving and look at areas where I need to get better. All the hard work that I have put in all these years have finally yielded results this year,” Axar added.
IND vs NZ LIVE: Why India did not impose follow-on? Talking specifically about India’s second innings declaration, Axar said that the plan was to bat as long as possible because time wasn’t a factor in this game any more after New Zealand were bowled out for 62 in their first innings.
“I won’t call it a delay (in declaration) as there is so much time left in the game. The idea was to bat as long as possible in this kind of a situation, which you don’t get everyday, so the plan was to make the most of it.
“We were trying to explore various options and check out what if we have to chase on this kind of a track on the last day, trying to express ourselves in a different situation,” he said, explaining the rationale behind the move to bat 70 overs in the second innings.
But the left-arm spinner, who dismissed the dangerous Daryl Mitchell, said that the pitch has eased out considerably and a batter can get out only if he commits a mistake unlike in the first innings when there was a lot of zip off the surface.
“Two days back, due to the underlying moisture, there was a fast turn on offer and as time is progressing, the track is slowing down a bit. So today, even when there was a turn, the batter had enough time to go on the back-foot and negotiate it.
“Only if the batter is making mistakes, then it’s a bit difficult for him. We have been in umpteen situations like these and we know what needs to be done in these circumstances. It won’t always be the case that batters will get out quickly so one needs to have patience,” he said.
IND vs NZ LIVE: Axar Patel opens up on stubborn Rachin Ravindra- He feels the hosts are in a good position to win the second Test, having taken five New Zealand’s wickets in the second innings on Sunday.
India dominated Day 3 of the second Test against New Zealand here at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai. In the first Test, Rachin Ravindra and Ajaz Patel have put up a gritty performance to ensure that the visitors walked away with a draw. But Axar feels India can get over the line this time since there are two days to bowl New Zealand out.
“We haven’t planned anything special for him (Rachin Ravindra). We have talked to our bowling coach to know his weakness and will try to bowl there only. We should be patient as that (first Test) time we had less time but now we have two days, so obviously, that’s an advantage for us,” said Axar while replying to an ANI query in a virtual press conference.
New Zealand batters Daryl Mitchell and Henry Nicholls were the only positive for the visitors on Sunday as Kiwis score read 140/5 at the end of Day 3 of the ongoing second Test against India.
IND vs NZ Live: Axar Patel opens up on batting skills ahead of South Africa tour, says, ‘Team has belief in my abilities’
IND vs NZ Day 3 Stumps: India 5 wicket away from victory after Ashwin, Axar rattle New Zealand
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