Former Indian cricketer Wasim Jaffer feels that Indian skipper Hardik Pandya is finding it difficult to use the all-rounder Axar Patel in the bowling department due to the left-right combination in the West Indies batting lineup. The all-rounder did not get the opportunity to bowl in the 2nd T20 against the Men in Maroon largely due to the presence of Nicholas Pooran.
The 29-year-old has emerged as a match-winner for India in all three formats of the game. Apart from his bowling abilities, Axar Patel has improved his batting drastically in the last two years and can play at any position for the team but has been drastically underutilized in recent times, especially in the bowling department.
Speaking to Espncricinfo, Wasim Jaffer raised his concern regarding the usage of Axar Patel in the bowling department for the Indian team as he often not bowled in the presence of a left-hander in the West Indies lineup and highlighted the fact that he was taken to the cleaners in the 1st T2oI game and said that he surprised to see Yuzvendra Chahal not bowling his final over in T20 cricket.
“That has been the problem with Axar Patel starting from his IPL franchise to the national team. Whenever a left-hander comes into the crease, it feels like he is not going to bowl.
“I can understand when Nicholas Pooran is on strike, but I thought when he and Shimron Hetmyer got out, I was surprised that he was not thrown the ball there. Obviously, you had Yuzvendra Chahal to bowl his final over and I was honestly surprised that he did not bowl.
“It is going to be a challenge for Hardik Pandya as to when and how to use Axar Patel. In the 1st T20I, he bowled him in the powerplay. He got hit for a 6 and a 4 by Nicholas Pooran and that’s a risk that you need to take,” Wasim Jaffer said.
India made a comeback into the 2nd T20 during the 16th over where Yuzvendra Chahal changed the fortunes for the team picking up 2 wickets in the same over but was not given the chance to bowl, as Hardik Pandya was trusted with seamers in the death overs, as they failed miserably to defend the total against Windies tail-enders.
Wasim Jaffer also urged the Indian team management to include youngster Yashasvi Jaiswal for the third T20 game against West Indies on Tuesday and wants the team to give a break to wicket-keeper batter Ishan Kishan, who is going through some poor form in T20 Internationals.