Axar Patel has said that he was pretty confident when he came out to bat in India’s opening Test against Australia at the Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA) Stadium in Nagpur. He came out to bat when the Indian team already had a lead of 64 runs in the first innings. From there on, Patel got to his second half-century in Tests off 94 balls.

He scored 52 runs off 102 balls with the help of eight fours and stayed unbeaten as well. He also put on an unbeaten partnership of 81 runs with Ravindra Jadeja, who remained unbeaten on 66 after picking up a five-wicket haul as well.

“I have carried the confidence of last year’s form with the bat,” Axar Patel was quoted as saying after the close of play on the second day.

READ MORE: ‘Could have gone deeper’ – Shubman Gill on his knock

“The technique has always been good. I just keep reinforcing it whenever I get breaks. Coaches tell me I have the capability, and I do it whenever I get my chance,” he further stated.

Meanwhile, Axar Patel also said that the batters would find it difficult coming to bat first on the pitch in Nagpur as well. But he also said that it gets easier for batters, once they start spending more time in the middle.

ALSO READ: Viacom18 bags WIPL Media Rights for 5 years

“It is difficult on this pitch initially, but once you get used to it, it gets very easy. But you have to concentrate hard on this pitch. When we bowl on this wicket, we will be fresh so we should get more help from it,” Axar Patel concluded.