Former India batter turned veteran commentator Aakash Chopra has added that while Axar Patel’s ODI performances have improved quite well in recent times, a lot has come against relatively weaker teams. However, Axar has been a key player in India’s white-ball line-up over the last couple of seasons, particularly because of his lower-order batting order as well. Moreover, he has been named in India’s 15-member World Cup squad, but there are some doubts over his fitness, having picked up an injury during the Asia Cup.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Chopra said, “Axar Patel’s batting and bowling average has improved. But let’s be honest – a lot of his games have been against slightly weaker teams. Since the 2019 World Cup, he has scored 300 runs in 14 ODIs at an average of 30 and a strike rate of 106, which includes two fifties, which is very good. Two of these games have been against West Indies, one against Zimbabwe, one against Bangladesh and three against Sri Lanka. His numbers against bigger sides haven’t been tested that well.”

While talking about the Axar Patel’s bowling, the veteran has added that his numbers, including his economy, are similar to Ravindra Jadeja as well.

“In bowling, since the 2019 World Cup, in 15 innings he has claimed 14 wickets at an average of 35 and an economy of 4.2. So, his economy rate is also good. The full story is that Jadeja’s stats are not that good, while Axar’s seem slightly better, but he is injured,” Chopra concluded.

However, in Axar’s absence, the Indian selectors have chosen Washington Sundar as well as veteran Ravichandran Ashwin in the squad for the ODI series against Australia, which begins on Friday, September 22 as well. Notably, Axar Patel had impressive ODI performances with the bat. In the Asia Cup 2023, Super 4 match against Bangladesh in Colombo on September 15, he scored 42 off 34 balls, nearly pulling off a victory for his side as well.