Axar Patel reveals how Suryakumar Yadav motivated him when he was getting hit for boundaries, says 'Whenever you get hit, he comes and...'

India's spin all-rounder Axar Patel has lauded new T20I skipper Suryakumar Yadav as a 'bowlers' captain' for providing freedom in the middle. Axar took a beating in the first three overs before making a comeback with a double strike that helped India beat Sri Lanka by 43 runs to take 1-0 lead in the series. 
 

"I played in the last Australia series with Surya bhai (as captain). I know that he is a bowlers' captain. He gives you free hand (in a way) that you decide first," Axar said at the post-match press conference on July 27.
 

"Whenever you get hit, he comes and says that it was a good ball. He keeps giving you inputs. As a player, there is a good bond with him."
 

However, this is not the first time Axar has played under captain Suryakumar. Suryakumar-led India beat Australia 4-1 in the five-T20I series.
 

"As a captain, I have also played with him in the last five matches (against Australia) and when I was playing today, I didn't feel much change," he said.
 

"In the first three overs when we were going for runs, he was telling me that we can do this or do that and how we can take a wicket. There is no problem if a four or six goes in it. As a bowler, you get confidence from that if the captain is backing you and telling you that you can do this."

Axar took two wickets for 38 runs and scored just 10 runs from five balls. His two wickets were set batters Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Perera in the 15th over which led to a batting collapse.

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Why Pant batted at no.3?

Rishabh Pant who batted at no.3 in T20 World Cup 2024 walked out to bat at no.4 as India wanted to maintain left-right combination in the middle. Axar believes that having a mix of left and right-handed batters is an advantage for them.
 

"Our team has four lefties and four righties. If there is a left-right combination (in the middle), it becomes very hard for the bowlers to maintain the line and lengths consistently especially with rotations with singles.
 

“Now if there are four lefties, how can you use them? If you have that chance (to ensure) that there are no two lefties or two righties (in the middle) at the same time.
 

“If you have that chance, if you have those players in batting, then why not use them? You also have to keep changing the batting order as per the bowling options that the opposition has got,” he added.

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No major overhaul after change in coaching staff

The 30-year-old also talked about India's new coaching staff under head coach Gautam Gambhir. He said that the coach has assured that there won't be major changes in how the team has operated in last few years.
 

“I have been playing for 10 years. I have played with different coaches and captains. I don't think a lot will change in the team. 
 

“When we were talking in the team meeting, they also said the same thing that the coach and captain keep changing but the team remains the same and the 11 or 15 players who stay, they have to do it. 
 

“They have told us that we will play the way we have been playing. Obviously, the coach and his input can be different. The thinking can be different, they keep telling you here and there. But there is not much change in the team's atmosphere,” he further added.
 

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