India’s 32-year-old all-rounder Axar Patel delivered a match-winning performance in the ODI series opener against England on July 14 at Edgbaston, Birmingham. Axar took four wickets and followed it up with an unbeaten half-century in the run chase. He wasn’t troubled by English bowlers despite the hosts creating pressure after skipper Shubman Gill leaving field retired hurt and KL Rahul losing his wicket early. After the six-wicket win, the southpaw revealed what went wrong in his batting approach in the T20I series and the reasons behind it.
"I feel like I was trying to hit the ball too hard during the T20Is," Axar told JioStar.
"When you go in to bat in the death overs, you don't have any other option but to go for big shots, but I was losing my shape a little. So, when I went in to bat in this game, after we got a great start, I just wanted to build a partnership," he explained.
Axar became only the third Indian all-rounder after Sachin Tendulkar and Hardik Pandya to take four wickets and registered a fifty-plus score in an away ODI.
Axar expressed that it was important for him to return to form. He wanted to remain focused in the run chase and believe in himself to execute his plans. He further explained that he was trying to hit too hard in the T20Is as he often walked out to bat when only a few balls were left in the innings. In addition, the conditions played a role as well. He also credited the presence of senior players Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, helping in creating a relaxed atmosphere in the dressing room.
Axar’s numbers in T20I series vs England and Ireland
In the T20I series, he did not get a set batting position. From five innings, he managed to score just 19 runs at a strike rate of 111.76. He got into the double digits just once in the T20I series. Earlier, in the T20I series against Ireland, he registered scores of 15 and 14. With the ball, he claimed two wickets each in series against England and Ireland.
It is yet to be seen whether Axar's batting position will be changed going ahead in the ODI series or he will continue to bat at no.7.