Ravindra Jadeja’s absence is hard to fill but the Indian team management has asked Axar Patel to be mentally prepared as he will be asked to bat in the top six if needed. India’s top six do not include a right-handed batsman and Rishabh Pant, so the need for a left-handed batsman to disturb the opposition’s momentum is paramount.
Akshar was sent down at No. 5 against Pakistan, but he was run out for one run. “They (Pakistan) had left-arm spinner Nawaz and leg-spinner Shadab, so it was important to send the left-hander and I was asked to go,” said Axar, who did well against the Netherlands. mixed area.
“Since our top six are right-handers, I have been told by the management that I will be promoted in the middle overs if the need arises and I should be prepared for that. That role has already been assigned and I have done well in practice games.
After a nightmare against Pakistan, where he was hit for three sixes by Iftikhar Ahmed, Akshar made a strong comeback Against Mino with a superb performance of 2/18 in 4 overs. “The pitch was a bit dry and the ball was stopping and coming. The ball was not being held properly so I was asked to hit hard on the deck as it was difficult to hit through the line. So that was the plan,” Axar said after the match as both he and R Ashwin bottled up the Dutch.
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Akshar said that when he analyzed Pakistan’s match, he found that it was a strange game where the batsman had a hand and needed to recover quickly from the disappointment. “After the Pakistan game, I sat down with the video analysts and the bowling coach. Actually there will be days when a batsman will take a chance against you. I analyzed and out of three sixes against me, I bowled only one bad delivery. You’ll have those days but if you keep thinking you can’t survive.”
South Africa will have many left-handers in the top order and Axar’s match-up against them is not very good as he scores around 9 runs per over against the Proteas. “I am not thinking much about the South African game. Will go there and call again what needs to be done. ,
The match in Perth will be played at Optus Stadium and will have good bounce on offer with Kagiso Rabada and Enrique Nortje in operation. “We need to play normal fearless cricket and not think that we are facing Rabada Nortje on a bouncy track. We also have Bhuvi, Shami and Arshdeep. We will have to continue with our form and see what happens.”
For spinners, the Australian track is a tough proposition, admits the slow left-arm conservative bowler. “The main difference between India and Australian wickets is bounce. In India, a batsman cannot easily rock on the backfoot and negotiate low bounce. In Australia, there is not much shopping off the track. It is not difficult to hit someone with the line while going on the back foot.
However, in the middle of the match, there is a lot of conversation about the behavior patterns of the track. “There is communication and if we think something is unusual and the track is changing, we send messages to the players to come.”
India’s next Super 12 Group 2 match of the T20 World Cup 2022 will be against South Africa in Perth on Sunday (30 October).
(with PTI input)