When team needs someone to stand up and deliver, they bank on me: Axar Patel
(Courtesy : Axar Patel/Instagram)
Axar Patel played a key role with the bat for India in the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 final.
Three weeks ago, India went on to make history when they snatched victory from the jaws of defeat and beat South Africa in the final of the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 by seven runs in Barbados. It broke India’s ICC trophy drought of more than a decade. Everyone chipped in in India’s win, and Axar Patel was one of India’s key performers. He contributed with the bat and the ball throughout the competition.
He was India’s most expensive bowler in the final with 1/49 in four overs, and Heinrich Klaasen smashed 25 runs in his last over. But, he scored vital 47 off 31 with the bat, which helped India reach a competitive total of 176/7. In a recent chat with ESPNcricinfo, Axar Patel talked about his journey during the competition.
“So many people dream of such things” – Axar Patel on India’s ICC T20 World Cup 2024 win
The whole world saw how India welcomed the T20 World Cup heroes when they reached Mumbai. Fans gathered in large numbers and joined the team in a victory parade on Marine Drive. Axar Patel shared his feelings after becoming the champion and said, “Not yet, to be honest. And even if we want to, the others are not letting us do it. The kind of atmosphere there is, the people are not letting it sink in. The kind of welcome we are getting, the kind of reception we are getting, locally too, is great. It’s been really enjoyable these last few days.”
He also talked about the special welcome he received when he reached his hometown in Gujarat. Fans came in big numbers to welcome him. He said, “That is when I thought how much craze there is for cricket in this country. It felt that along with us the entire country and the people have won this trophy.” Axar Patel also talked about his 31-ball 47-run knock and said that he was not aware of his batting position.
He said that when Pant got out in the second over, he was asked to get ready, and then two overs later, Suryakumar Yadav also got out. The all-rounder added that he wasn’t nervous, and there was nothing in his head. He added, “I had gone with a see-ball, hit-ball mindset. I was not thinking about anything, not worrying about the consequences, there were no second thoughts in my mind.”
“Consistently communicated with Virat bhai”- Axar Patel
Axar Patel also batted up the order for Delhi Capitals in the Indian Premier League 2024, and India also used him up at the position in the game against Pakistan. He said that he communicated with Virat during that 72-run partnership in the final, which helped him. The all-rounder said, “I kept talking with Virat bhai and we communicated clearly about what we have to do.”
However, India have used Axar Patel as a floater in the batting order, and it has clicked well for them. That’s how the all-rounder feels and reckons that whenever the team needs him, they send him up, and that has worked well. He said, “When the team needs someone to stand up, they are banking on me to deliver. That means they have seen something in me. When the team trusts you to deliver in such crunch situations, you start trusting yourself even more automatically.”
However, when asked about his role and whether, he is a bowling all-rounder or batting all-rounder, he said, “Jis din jo chal gaya, wo allrounder ban jata hoon main (Whatever works for me on a given day, I become that variety of an allrounder).”
Axar Patel to be in action on Sri Lanka tour
After the T20I retirement of Ravindra Jadeja, Axar is likely to take his place. The all-rounder is part of both the ODI and T20I squads for the coming Sri Lanka tour. He will play under new T20I captain and new head coach.
On playing under the captaincy of Suryakumar Yadav and head coach Gautam Gambhir, Axar Patel said, “I have spent a lot of time with Suryakumar. Surya bhai is a happy-go-lucky guy. I recently played a five-game T20I series when he was the captain. I know he is a bowler’s captain. He gives the bowlers the fields they ask for. With Gautam bhai, yes, we will go to Sri Lanka, there will be meetings, we will exchange a few thoughts and after that I will get to know exactly what my role is and what he thinks. “
Axar, who is likely to be a key player in future, is not thinking much about future and wants to focus on present. He said, “I can only set my goals based on the kind of role I am expected to perform. I don’t believe in long-term planning. I just look at the present, what’s in front of me and just the short-term goals is what I look at.”
For more updates, follow Khel Now Cricket for IPL 2024 Live Score & IPL Points Table, on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Whatsapp & Telegram.
- NZ vs ENG: Ben Stokes to lead as England name 16-man squad for 3-match test tour of New Zealand
- Hong Kong Cricket Sixes 2024: Teams, schedule, squads, dates, timings, venues, live streaming details and all you need to know
- Top 10 teams with most individual centuries (100) in test cricket
- List of all Indian women's cricketers participating in Women's Big Bash League 2024-25
- Top 7 fastest centuries (100) in Ranji Trophy
- NZ vs ENG: Ben Stokes to lead as England name 16-man squad for 3-match test tour of New Zealand
- Hong Kong Cricket Sixes 2024: Teams, schedule, squads, dates, timings, venues, live streaming details and all you need to know
- Top 10 teams with most individual centuries (100) in test cricket
- List of all Indian women's cricketers participating in Women's Big Bash League 2024-25
- Top 7 fastest centuries (100) in Ranji Trophy