Axar Patel, an all-rounder for India, has shown an improvement in his batting form during the IPL. He attributes this to his extended time spent with the national side.
On Tuesday, Axar was in fine form for the Delhi Capitals, scoring 54 runs off of just 25 balls as he and David Warner of Australia put on 67 runs for his team in 6.2 overs against the Mumbai Indians.
With a knock that included five sixes from Axar, the Capitals were able to recover from a 98/5 deficit in the 13th over and eventually score 172.
Axar’s team came close, but ultimately fell short, as Mumbai snatched another nail-biting victory in the final ball of the tournament.
Axar Patel has made 91 appearances for India with the white ball, and has been instrumental in their victories against Australia in the Border-Gavaskar and Sri Lanka in the Twenty20 Internationals earlier this year.
After reaching 50 in the IPL, the all-rounder credited learning from Ricky Ponting at the Caps, but he also stressed the value of international experience, particularly for the mental aspect of the game.
Axar remarked that being able to play in all three formats for India was a huge confidence booster.
Prominent players such as Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma (Sharma). Hardik (Pandya) gave me some advice on how to adjust my outlook.
While Axar was a part of India’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup team that competed in Australia last year, the all-rounder often found himself facing the first ball of the final over.
The 29-year-old has had some great moments in the middle for India in 2023, including the Test series against Australia and the home Twenty20 International series against Sri Lanka.
Axar Patel now recognises the significance of the early-year possibilities as formative learning experiences.
“As an all-rounder, when you score 20-30 runs, you think you can go for the big shots. I changed that thinking, to control the game and finish it,” Axar said.
“These were the mindset changes I worked on. From the Sri Lanka series, when I scored runs, I got the confidence and it is that confidence that got carried forward.”
Axar was brought into the Sri Lanka series earlier than expected, and his 31* (20), 65 (31), and 21* (9) helped India win the series 2-1.
The all-rounder is certain that his team, Delhi, can get their first win of the 2023 competition thanks in part to his wealth of experience.
Even if I’m batting fourth, he said, “I’m good for only 10 or 12 overs.”
“If you have a positive attitude, and think about what you’re going to do in the next match, you will be able to bring the performance that you want to bring. It’s important to remain positive and that’s what we keep talking about.”
Warner is confident in Axar’s ability to step into a leadership role in the future.
“I think from the last three games, we have some positives, but we shouldn’t lost wickets in clumps,” Warner said.
“Axar should bat in the top four the way he is striking the ball. From the last three games we have played, there are a lot of positives.”
