Indian all-rounder Axar Patel is optimistic about the performance of the young squad to face Australia in the upcoming T20I series. He emphasised the need to move forward from the disheartening loss in the ODI World Cup 2023 final. India and Australia are set to resume action in the opening match of the five-game T20I series on November 23, featuring a new set of players just 96 hours after the World Cup final in Ahmedabad on November 19.
"Everyone knows that we suffered heartbreak in the World Cup final. But it's time to move on. We have a young team that will play Australia in the T20Is. All of us are keen to prove that we belong here. There's a lot of energy in the team. It's just that we have only 10-11 T20I matches to go before the T20 World Cup to make an impression. So, all of us have been told to play according to our strengths. There's no need for us to do something brand new”, Axar Patel said while speaking on 'India Nets Live' on JioCinema.
“We have been told to express ourselves and move ahead. We have five matches against Australia and all of us know that they are a good side. We are not going to put ourselves under undue pressure. We will try and enjoy the games we play," he added.
Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and KL Rahul are absent from the squad as they last featured in a T20I encounter during the World Cup 2022. The T20I squad is filled with IPL performers who are yet to make their mark at the highest level. Rinku Singh, who debuted in Ireland and also participated in the Asian Games, along with Tilak Varma, will undergo a challenging test in international cricket against Australia.
"The mindset remains the same as what it was before I had to miss the World Cup due to injury. But I am fit again and am keen on doing well in all departments of the game. I have not made any changes and am focussing on the processes. I don't want to make much changes to my mindset. I am not looking at this series from the view that I am among the senior players in the team now. I just want to continue doing what I was before the injury," Patel concluded.
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