New Delhi: India all-rounder Axar Patel admitted that he was guilty of trying to hit the ball in a grueling T20I against England, saying a change in mindset and a big faith in timing helped him to excel in the opening ODI at Edgbaston.Axar, who was named Player of the Match, starred with the bat as India came from their 0-4 T20I defeat to register a six-wicket victory in the first ODI. The left-arm spinner returned figures of 4/62 in 9.5 overs before hitting 57 off 52 balls, leading India to 259 with 28 balls to spare.Captain Shubman Gill (80 not out) and Washington Sundar (52 not out) also contributed as India took a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
Axar explains the challenges of T20I
Reflecting on his poor T20I return, where he managed just 19 runs in four innings, Axar said he realized that he was leaving the path in search of power.“It was very important for me to give this kind of performance. As for my mindset, I had to keep going. I had to stay focused instead of thinking that it will happen automatically. I had to have confidence and achieve my goals,” Axar told JioStar.“I feel like I try to hit the ball more during T20Is,” he said.The 32-year-old explained that batting in the death overs in the T20 series forced him to play more dangerous strokes, which led him to improve.“When you go in to fight to the death, you don’t have any other option but to go for a big shot, but I was losing my form a little bit. So, when I went in to fight the game, when we started very early, I just wanted to build a relationship,” he explained.
Spending time on energy pays off
Axar said that Edgbaston’s limited form required patience, allowing him to trust his timing rather than force the ball.“I wasn’t trying to hit the ball too much because I knew I had time and I could get a few more balls. I was just thinking about my timing,” he said.He said that what made life difficult for new batsmen, was that the pace, swing and seam rewarded those who wanted to stay long before attacking.Axar also appreciated the return of the big stars Rohit Sharma, Virat KohliJasprit Bumrah and KL Rahul, say that their presence brought calmness and confidence to the dressing room.“We have been playing together for a long time. Everyone knows their roles, there is unity, and you can see that on the field as well. It creates a very comfortable environment,” he said.India will look to seal the three-match ODI series when they take on England in the second match in Cardiff on Thursday.
