Team India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak backed the team management’s persistence with all-rounder Axar Patel as the No.5 batter in the ongoing ODI series against New Zealand. He has had a rough time with the bat in the middle order, scoring only seven runs in two matches and struggling against pace in some testing conditions as well. In the first ODI on November 4, Axar walked in at No.5 ahead of KL Rahul with India chasing a revised target of 143, and was out for a two-ball duck. In
the next match in Wellington on November 7, he came in at No.5 again and managed only 7 off 17 balls.

“Yes, one reason is definitely the left-right combination. Another factor is recognizing KL’s strength in finishing games. Furthermore, Axar has previously batted at number five in ODIs quite often; he is a capable batter. The reality is, if a tactic doesn’t yield runs, people question why the player was sent up; if it works, people call it a brilliant move. That’s just how it goes,” Kotak said during the pre-match press conference.

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Sitanshu Kotak applauded KL Rahul’s adaptability and versatility after he rescued India again amid a collapse in the second ODI run chase as well.

“I think KL Rahul’s biggest advantage is that he opens in red-ball cricket, bats in the middle order in white-ball ODIs, and whenever required, he bats at number five where his record is great, or at number six where it is equally good. He is someone who plays according to the needs of the team. Since I joined, I can hardly remember many matches where he got a chance to bat and didn’t contribute,” Kotak concluded.