I Do Not Talk to Ravi Shastri Too Much As He Knows My Bowling Style is Quite Different to His- Axar Patel
Jan 6, 2019 at 3:51 AM
Team India is all set to win yet another series when they take the field against the Kiwis in the 2nd T20I scheduled to be played at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Ground in Rajkot. The limited overs team has many superstars who have helped India rise to the top of the ICC ODI rankings. They are currently ranked 2nd behind the Proteas after failing to whitewash the Kiwis in the ODI series.
Virat Kohli, Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, and Dhoni are the few among the group of superstars in the team, and though left-arm spinner Axar Patel doesn’t fall in that category, he is a very effective limited overs bowler and can also contribute with the bat lower down the order. His ability to contain the batsmen and score some runs down the order has helped him get the nod ahead of Kuldeep Yadav.
He has an economy rate of 6 in the T20I format which is simply magnificent in a format where the batsmen are always in search of big shots. The current head coach of Team India Ravi Shastri was also a left-arm spinner during his playing days, but Patel has revealed that Shastri doesn’t suggest him to change much in his bowling as he is well aware of the fact that both have different bowling styles. He just wants Axar to bowl stump to stump.
“I do not talk to him (Ravi) too much as he knows my bowling style is quite different, as compared to him. He does not suggest too many changes. He says, you know you have come into the Indian team after having performed well, so just continue doing the same,” Axar told reporters ahead of the 2nd T20I in Rajkot.
“He also often talks about the need to know about how to bowl in different pressure situations. He does not give me major advice, but asks me to bowl stump to stump.”
He is a bowler who doesn’t turn the ball much and rather relies on his unwavering line and length to reap the rewards. He cannot take his place for granted as Kuldeep Yadav is always pushing for a spot while the likes of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja is also ready for a comeback, so Axar needs to make most of his limited chances and cement his place in the team.