Former Pakistan captain Salman Butt said that Team India’s left-arm spinner Axar Patel isn’t on the same level as Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin as well. Butt stated how Axar failed to trouble the batters on a spin-friendly track during India’s Super Four clash against Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup 2023 in Colombo on Tuesday as well. He also added that while he is a good option with the bat, there was still scope for improvement in his bowling as well.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Salman Butt explained: “When you see Axar Patel’s bowling, he is not on par with Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin. No doubt his batting is quite good, but if he didn’t get any turn on this wicket, where will it spin? There was so much turn on offer that even Charith Asalanka picked up four wickets. However, Axar Patel didn’t get any turn, which is a matter of concern.”
However, Axar Patel replaced all-rounder Shardul Thakur in India’s playing XI for the match against Sri Lanka. He gave away 29 runs in five overs and failed to pick up a single wicket as well. And, Salman Butt also highlighted how Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja troubled the Sri Lankan players with their stunning bowling.
“Kuldeep Yadav gives the ball air. Both Kuldeep and Jadeja have very good releases, which is why there is a lot of rip. Our bowlers push the ball towards the batters instead of giving the ball air and revs. They bowl at a flatter trajectory. Yes, Jadeja also bowls flat, but he gets rip. Rohit Sharma’s captaincy was brilliant. He set wicket-taking field placements, which was very important. We saw how there were fielders in catching positions. There was a leg slip for spinners, and even on the boundary rope, the fielders were stationed accurately.
The captaincy was spot on. He saved Kuldeep’s over, and when the tailenders came in, he brought him back into the attack and he dismissed the last two batters. Sharma was very courageous and even had the mid-on and mid-off inside the circle. Pakistan, on the other hand, send everyone in the deep as soon as a spinner comes in to bowl,” he concluded.
