In a dominant display, India secured a convincing 6-wicket victory over Afghanistan in the chilly conditions of Mohali on Thursday. Axar Patel, who contributed with two crucial wickets, expressed his determination to deliver noteworthy performances for India in the upcoming matches. The versatile all-rounder shed light on his strategic approach to bowling in the challenging Mohali conditions.

“The wicket was not conducive, and the weather was quite cold, so I was contemplating how to give my best in these conditions. I opted to focus on a specific area and let the batsmen take their chances. My current mindset revolves around utilizing variations, which has boosted my confidence. Now, I am not just aiming to be economical but to make an impact with the ball,” explained Axar Patel.

Having faced a recent setback, missing out on significant cricket, including the World Cup, due to injury, the 29-year-old reflected on his journey from injury to a successful comeback. Axar utilized the time away positively, dedicating it to refining his bowling skills.

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“It was an unfortunate injury, but not my first. I approached that period with a positive mindset, thinking I could enhance my game further. While at the NCA, I focused on my bowling, incorporating variations like slower ones against Australia and utilizing my crease effectively. As an off-spinner, I worked on adding 5 to 10% more to my bowling repertoire at the NCA,” shared the left-arm spinner.

Addressing his experience playing under two different captains, Hardik Pandya and Rohit Sharma, Axar emphasized the negligible difference between the two leaders. Both captains, according to Axar, provide him with the freedom to execute his plans, understanding his strengths. They allow him to set his own field, with intervention only when necessary.

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“There is no difference. Both have given me freedom. They tell me to execute my plan first. They know my strengths and they allow me to set my own field. And if my plans don’t work, they interfere. So, as a player, I really didn’t find any difference,” concluded Axar Patel, highlighting the unity and trust within the Indian cricket team under different leaderships.