Former Indian assistant coach Abhishek Nayar has heaped praise on Axar Patel after India registered a six-wicket win against England in the first ODI at Edgbaston, Birmingham on Tuesday. Patel delivered with both bat and ball as India bagged their first win on the UK tour.
After Harry Brook won the toss, England was skittled out for 258 after fifties from Joe Root and Liam Dawson. Patel played a key role in India’s bowling innings, returning with his career-best ODI figures of 4-62. The left-arm orthodox spinner accounted for Jofra Archer, Liam Dawson, Adil Rashid and Josh Tongue.
Furthermore, Patel scored a fine knock of 57 runs off 52 balls in the run chase of 259 with the help of five fours and one six. He added 105 runs off 102 balls with Washington Sundar to get India over the line after India lost the wickets of Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul in quick time. Ergo, he was awarded Player of the Match for his all-round performance.
Nayar highlighted that Patel felt like a very different batter from T20Is.
Nayar said on Star Sports, “It was heartening to see the way Axar Patel batted. It felt like a very different batter from the T20Is. He was in control yet played his shots. It never felt like he curbed his instincts.”
Nayar reckons the presence of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma helped Patel and Washington Sundar in adding a match-winning alliance.
“I don’t believe that they are on audition. They’ve been part of the setup whenever Ravindra Jadeja hasn’t been there. It’s also comforting for them that they were part of the T20 series so they know the English conditions a lot better than some of the guys who’ve just come in. 2. It also showed what senior players do to an environment,” said Nayar (via the aforementioned source).
“Sometimes when the focus is not on you and is on someone else, it can relieve the pressure of these younger players. People don’t pay enough heed to that. When the focus is on Rohit or Virat and them scoring runs, it allows an Axar and Sunday play with freedom.”
The second ODI between India and England will be played at Sophia Gardens, Cardiff, on Thursday.
