Former English spinner, Graeme Swann reckons that Axar Patel might be the weak link as he has not done that much recently ahead of the second T20I fixture of the series between India and New Zealand. Axar Patel was seen scalping as many as 15 wickets from 12 matches in the IPL 2021 with an economy of 6.65 for Delhi Capitals (DC).
A three-match T20I series between India and New Zealand commenced on November 17 with India winning the opening game. India won the match by five wickets chasing the target of 165 runs with a couple of balls to spare. Bowling first in the T20I, India restricted the opposition on 164/6. Axar Patel conceded 31 runs from his spell of four overs without taking a wicket in the match.
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Axar Patel was a surprising pick in the India squad for some of the pundits against New Zealand. He has bagged nine wickets from 13 T20Is playing for India. Former England spinner Graeme Swann reckons that Axar Patel could be the one New Zealand can target.
During a chat on cricket.com, Graeme Swann said, “He might be the weak link. He’s not really done that much recently. He is still an 8 out 10. He didn’t have the greatest of IPL without doing anything wrong. He didn’t set the world alight. Brilliant cricketer.”
Axar Patel was impressive when England had visited India earlier this year. The first Test in the series was won by England but India made a brilliant comeback in the series by winning the remaining three matches. Axar had scalped 27 wickets from three Test matches in the series and was second highest wicket taker behind Ravichandran Ashwin. Swann praised Axar’s performance in the Test series against England as it played a huge role in India reaching the final of the World Test Championship.
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Graeme Swann recalled, “And maybe me saying this is begrudging because he just destroyed (England). I mean, England were supposed to win that Test series in India after the Test in Chennai, but thanks to Axar Patel, England came third in a two-way race.”
