IPL 2021: Axar Patel Rejoins Delhi Capitals After Being Back To Full Fitness

Apr 23, 2021 at 3:45 PM

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IPL 2021: Axar Patel Rejoins Delhi Capitals After Being Back To Full Fitness

Axar Patel, who tested positive in early April, rejoined the Delhi Capitals on Thursday in Chennai. He is back to full fitness and participated in his first-team training session on Friday.

After spending nearly three weeks in a medical care facility in Mumbai, Delhi Capitals allrounder Axar Patel has bounced back from Covid-19.

Axar Patel, Delhi Capitals'
Axar Patel in action for Delhi Capitals during IPL 2019©BCCI-IPL

Axar Patel Terms Getting Back In Delhi Capitals Camp Is The Best Moment In His Life After A Successful Test Debut

“I’m getting sheer joy just by seeing people,” said Axar Patel said in a video posted by his franchise Delhi Capitals on Friday, expressing his joy and relief at recovering from dreaded Covid-19 which has enveloped India with a vicious second wave.

“This is the best moment in my life after my Test debut,” Patel said. “I was alone in my room for 20 days and I didn’t have anything to do. I was watching the matches and one good thing was that our team won most of the matches, so I got even more motivated to re-join the side. We are just focusing on how my body is reacting to training sessions.”

Delhi Capitals
Delhi Capitals. Image Credits: Twitter

Axar Patel had originally checked into the Delhi Capitals’ team hotel on March 28 in Mumbai, where the previous season IPL 2020’s runners-up played their first three matches this season.

While he had entered the bubble with a negative test report, on April 3 the Delhi Capitals issued a media statement, saying Axar Patel’s second test at the team hotel had come out positive. He was immediately moved to a medical facility where he was isolated in his own room.

Delhi Capitals Had Roped In Shams Mulani For Short Time Covid-19 Replacement For Axar Patel

In his absence, the Delhi Capitals had roped in Shams Mulani, a left-arm-finger spin-bowling allrounder from Mumbai, as a temporary like-for-like replacement for Axar Patel.

Axar Patel’s all-around skills offer the Capitals a good balance as he can provide depth in the batting, too. Along with Ravichandran Ashwin and Amit Mishra, the Capitals, who are currently third on the points table, fielded uncapped Indian allrounder Lalit Yadav in their last two matches.

Amit Mishra is the second-highest wicket-taker in the history of IPL. (Source: File)
Amit Mishra is the second-highest wicket-taker in the history of IPL. (Source: File)

However, it is likely the franchise will allow Axar Patel a bit more time to recover and train considering he has not played since March 12, in the first T20I against England. The Delhi Capitals play their next game on April 25 against the Sunrisers Hyderabad in Chennai.

Axar Patel, who had missed the first Test against England which India lost by 227 runs due to an injury, took a five-wicket haul in the second innings of the second Test. The left-arm spinner Axar Patel spun a web and bagged two five-wicket hauls in the third Test, thus helping India register a 10-wicket win inside two days.

And with a five-for in the second innings of the fourth Test, the left-arm spinner took his series tally to 27 wickets. In his Test series against England, he picked 27 scalps to finish behind Ravichandran Ashwin (32) in the leading wicket-takers list.

Axar Patel was the 2nd player after Kolkata Knight Riders batsman Nitish Rana to test positive for the virus. RCB’s Devdutt Padikkal had also missed the team’s first match against MI but returned to play the next matches. He struck his first ton against Rajasthan Royals the other night.

He picked 9 scalps in 15 games in IPL 2020 at UAE but the fact that the IPL series is in India this time, he may bag more wickets for Indian subcontinent pitches offer more turn and aid spinners.

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