Former Indian wicket-keeper batsman Parthiv Patel believes Axar Patel should have been included in the Asia Cup squad instead of Ravichandran Ashwin. Patel feels the left-handed all-rounder had done whatever was asked out of him.
In the second ODI against West Indies, Axar Patel scored a match-winning knock of 64 runs off just 35 balls to add the finishing touches and took his team over the line.
Furthermore, Patel took five wickets in two T20I matches and bowled at the top of his game. He was also awarded the Player of the Match for his fine performance in the fifth T20I against the Windies after returning with figures of 3-15. However, Patel was named in the reserves player list for the Asia Cup.
Parthiv Patel said while talking on his YouTube Channel, “Another surprising exclusion for me was that of Axar Patel. He has delivered for the team whenever they wanted and did whatever was asked out of him.”
The former cricketer added: “I think they tried Ashwin at the last World Cup and if they need off-spin in Australia then they have the option of Hooda. So, as a backup for Jadeja, Axar should have been picked.”
Meanwhile, Indian selectors picked four spinners and three seamers in the 15-man squad for Asia Cup. Patel reckons India might be one fast bowler short in the tournament.
“India has gone in with four spinners, which is a bit surprising given the conditions in the UAE. They have chosen just three seamers, which I feel is one short. They should have gone with three spinners and four seamers as we saw when IPL was played here that the pacers got a bit of help.”
Former Gujarat player added that India might select all the three pacers in the playing XI and they are going to back Hardik Pandya to bowl his quota of overs.
“Indian team management might play all the three pacers in the squad. But it also means that they have shown a lot of faith in Hardik Pandya’s bowling. They believe he can bowl four overs.”
“If they want to go in with just two seamers with Hardik as third option, then instead of the third seamer they can play Deepak Hooda to deepen their batting. He can give a bit of off-spin too. If they need an out-and-out bowler, then they can play Ashwin.”
India will begin their Asia Cup campaign against Pakistan on August 28 at Dubai.
