Former Indian batter Ambati Rayudu slammed the India team management for sending Axar Patel at No.5 in a tricky run chase during the second ODI against New Zealand in Wellington on Saturday, November 7. His promotion backfired when he was dismissed for 7 off 17 deliveries. India had bowled New Zealand out for 134 in 41 overs after India chose to field in overcast conditions, with Gurnoor Brar taking a career-best 4 for 30 as well.

“I just felt that Axar Patel, in these given conditions, maybe he is not ready to bat at No.5. At No.6 or No.7, he can still come in and do a job. But I just feel that at No.5, you need a proper batter who can handle these conditions. If Axar Patel can do lower down the order, maybe we can look at Ishan Kishan going forward, because we need a batter to bat along with Shreyas and KL. We either need to get Naman Dhir up or get Ishan Kishan into the mix, because that is the only one area where I have seen a little bit of a lack. It is a good lesson for the Indian team going forward, but all in all, we played some decent cricket,” he said on Cricbuzz.

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Meanwhile, former India spinner Murali Kartik also questioned the team management’s decision to promote all-rounder Axar Patel in the batting order.

“At that point of time, if you need to send Axar Patel, it has to be with a brief that he is going to have a go at everything and try and upset the bowlers. The message should be that even if we lose you, if you get a quick-fire 15-20 and then you throw the bowlers off guard, then that is a different thing. But it seemed as if he was trying to come and apply himself, which was not needed at that point,” he concluded.