Ex-India player Parthiv Patel expressed his preference for Axar Patel over Ravindra Jadeja for the upcoming 2024 T20 World Cup which is set to take place in the West Indies and the United States of America from June 2, later this year. Axar has showcased remarkable form in the ongoing T20I series against Afghanistan. He stands as the top wicket-taker in the series having claimed four wickets in two matches with an impressive economy rate of five.
According to Parthiv, Axar's bowling speed makes it challenging for batters to effectively play against him.
"His strength is the accuracy with which he bowls with. He doesn't bowl in the slot, most of the time. If you want to hit him, you have to hit him use the feet or make room. And using feet is not easy against him because of the pace with which he bowls," Parthiv told Jio Cinemas.
Parthiv believes that Axar's capability and skills to bowl effectively during the powerplay render him a versatile cricketer, able to excel in any playing condition.
"He is someone who can perform everywhere. In this T20 format, yes, we talk about Ravindra Jadeja, but I think Axar gives you that stability. He bowls in powerplays, and it makes him an even better cricketer," he stated.
During the second T20I at the Holkar Cricket Stadium in Indore on Sunday, Axar was named Player of the Match for his outstanding performance, ending with 2 wickets for 17 runs in his four-over spell. He picked the wickets of Ibrahim Zadran and Gulbadin Naib, playing a key role in limiting Afghanistan to 172 runs on a pitch that was favorable for batting. Although Axar hasn't had the opportunity to bat in the series, Parthiv highlighted his value to the team, emphasizing his potent power-hitting skills.
"In this format, yes. I think Axar brings in more variety. He doesn't bowl in a one-dimensional way. He bats at any number. If you look at this Indian team, you need a power hitter, and Axar brings that. And in this format, Axar is ahead of Jadeja, as far as I am concerned," Parthiv added.
The third and concluding T20I match between India and Afghanistan is scheduled for January 17 at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore.
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