Former Indian cricketer Mohammad Kaif said that star India all-rounder Axar Patel could have had a lot more wickets to his name in the T20I series against Afghanistan if fielders could grab more catches. He was the joint-highest wicket-taker among spinners in the 3-0 whitewash as well.

“He is the biggest takeaway from this series, Ravi Bishnoi. Along with Nitish Kumar Reddy and Axar Patel. We don’t take Axar’s name too often, but he was a bit unlucky because 3-4 catches were dropped off his bowling. If the catches were taken, he could have had 15 wickets in this series. He comes in the powerplay, bowls with the new ball, dismisses Gurbaz in this match, and then picks wickets with the old ball as well,” Mohammad Kaif said on Cricbuzz.

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Meanwhile, Indian wrist-spinner Ravi Bishnoi retained his place in the playing XI after the tour of England and Zimbabwe. Still, he had to settle for the bench during the series opener against Afghanistan. However, he came in the team after Varun Chakravarthy’s injury, and Ravi Bishnoi scalped four wickets at an average of 14.50 as well.

“Ravi Bishnoi used to be in and out of the team, but now he is being backed more ahead of Kuldeep. After watching him bowl in the 3rd T20I, I feel that he is analyzing his bowling. Firstly, he has straightened his run-up, earlier he used to run in from wide of the crease, because of which he bowled a lot of back-foot no-balls. He also used to bowl flat and defensively, keeping the ball away from the left-handers, but now he is bowling fuller and on the stumps. I think the changes he is making are for the better,” Mohammad Kaif said.

“Also, it is not as if Ravi Bishnoi has just started playing for India as a newcomer. He has been playing for a while now. He has been the No.1 ranked T20I bowler. If Ravi Bishnoi and Axar Patel lead the attack in Varun Chakravarthy’s absence, then I feel that our spin attack is good,” he concluded.