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Axar Patel's exceptional all-round display was overshadowed by Dasun Shanaka's brilliance as Sri Lanka fought back after losing the first T20I and registered an emphatic win in the second T20I on January 05 (Thursday) in Pune. The Islanders rode on their captain's majestical night in Pune and thumped India by 16 runs. Chasing a daunting target of 207 runs, the Men in Blue clawed their way back into the game after losing early wickets after Axar and Suryakumar Yadav lit up the night sky in Pune.
The spin-bowling all-rounder delivered an impeccable spell with the ball (2/24) and then played a blistering knock of 65 runs off 31 balls with the help of three fours and six sixes. Suryakumar chipped in with 51 runs off 36 balls with the help of three fours and as many sixes. Despite the best efforts of Axar and Suryakumar, India could only manage to score 190/8 in 20 overs.
After the loss, head coach Rahul Dravid applauded Axar for his efforts and bragged about the depth in India's spin all-rounder's department.
"I think in our spin bowling all-rounder's slot our stocks are pretty good at the moment," Dravid said at the post-match press conference.
"Shahbaz (Ahmed) was also part of the squad and considering that Washington (Sundar) is there and then Jadeja as well so we are happy with that," he added.
"I think in T20 cricket, whenever he has got the opportunity, he's done really well so, that's really a good sign for us, people like him, people like Washi not getting a game, he's batting really well and obviously Jadeja coming back (soon) as well gives us nice little (options) in that spin-bowling all-rounder area," the Indian head coach added.
Dravid lavished high praise on Axar's batting and how it has evolved in the last few years. The Indian head coach also highlighted the 28-year-old's work ethic that has helped him elevate his game to the next level.
"He is certainly doing a really good job and his batting is coming on (in) leaps and bounds. We always knew his quality with the ball and it was just about developing his batting. He is working really hard on it. Honestly, we had identified him more than a year (ago)," Dravid opined
"It's (batting) an area of his game that we have identified, we know that it's important for us to have that and whatever opportunities Axar has got, especially with Jadeja missing quite a lot of cricket, he hasn't let us down in Test cricket, ODIs, whether it's been here," added Dravid.
