India all-rounder Axar Patel revealed that it was MS Dhoni, who had helped him in regaining his confidence as a batter. Axar had spent time together with Dhoni when the latter was appointed as the team's mentor in the 2021 T20 World Cup. This was a time when the all-rounder was mostly favoured for his bowling skills and wasn't seen as a player, who could contribute well with the bat.
Axar said that he had worked very hard on his batting after being dropped from the team in 2021, but it was in 2021 when he got his confidence in the department back with the help of Dhoni. The latter had told the 31-year-old that he was putting a lot of pressure on himself by thinking that he had to perform in every match and also told him to believe in himself.
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“I started as a batter but became a full-time spinner when I reached the NCA. In my early days I didn’t do well with the bat and started doubting myself," Axar told The Times of India.
“When I got dropped in 2018, I worked very hard on my batting. When MS Dhoni was mentor of the 2021 T20 World Cup team, he told me that in my earlier days, under his captaincy, I put pressure on myself by thinking I had to perform all the time, rather than simply believing that I was a capable batter. Slowly I started implementing what Mahi bhai had told me and I regained my confidence," he added.
Axar's brilliant display in T20 WC final
Axar stepped up his game with the bat during the 2024 T20 World Cup final. It was his 72-run partnership alongside Virat Kohli that proved to be a game-changer for India against South Africa. His knock of 47 massively helped the team in posting a fighting total of 176/7 on the board after 20 overs. Though he proved to be costly with the ball and only picked up one wicket, his contributions were important to the Men in Blue's victory.
Axar was also satisfied with the way he performed in the final and was so confident about his place in the T20I set-up that he even thought to himself that he will never be dropped from the team again.
“After the T20 WC final, I never thought I would be dropped again,” Axar stated.
Axar's next international assignment
Meanwhile, Axar's next assignment will most likely be India's five-match T20I series against New Zealand that will commence from January 21. He will also be aiming to perfform well in the 2026 T20 World Cup that will begin from February 7 and will be played in India and Sri Lanka.