Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan feels that India should have sent Tilak Varma and Naman Dhir to bat ahead of Axar Patel in the fourth T20I against New Zealand in Auckland. Pathan also said both batters are in great form and deserve more chances to showcase their skills as well. India lost to New Zealand by 87 runs at the Eden Park in Auckland on Friday, October 30, in the fourth T20I of the five-match series. Chasing a huge target of 260, they managed 172-9. After they lost three wickets quickly, they sent Axar into bat at No. 5.

During a discussion on Cricinfo, Pathan said: “Axar has been given a role. Whenever he goes up the order in T20 cricket, his role is to just smack it, get quick 20s, 30s and get the momentum going. In an ideal situation, you want to see your proper batters because you are batting till number 8. You have that kind of breather as well if the wicket falls.”

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“So, if you want to go with right and left-hand combination, Tilak is there as a left-hander. Naman Dhir is there as a right-hander. And both these guys are playing their T20 cricket so well. If they get more opportunities, it will be great. If I was there in the dressing room, I would have pushed the coach to send Tilak Varma and Naman Dhir,” he again shared.

While Irfan Pathan again shared that he was not in favour of Axar’s batting promotion, he also added that he understood why India did it.

“I get why Axar Patel was pushed up, especially when India were losing wickets. He has done it in the World Cup final as well. He has done it some other important games. So, that recency in their head, of him performing really well, goes in the favour of Axar Patel. But, if Tilak and Naman Dhir get more opportunities to play more number of balls, you never know what can happen,” he concluded.