India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir has revealed that the team’s think tank will back the strategy of having a left-right batting combination in ODIs after a 3-0 series win against England. India won the third ODI by 142 runs at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad on Wednesday.

India’s team management backed Axar Patel at number five in the first two matches of the series. The left-hander was able to grab his opportunity with both hands, returning with scores of 52 and 41*.

In the final ODI, Patel was pushed to number seven and he was dismissed after scoring 13 runs. Gambhir said that Patel can make an impact while batting at number five and they want to keep backing him.

“That’s the way cricket is meant to be played,” Gambhir said after the series victory when asked about the ploy. “I know a lot of people talk about it, but that’s the way we’ve got to play the game and that’s the way cricket should be played. It’s not about the batting order. It’s about who can create what impact.

“And it’s about… if you have the option of putting a quality left-hander in the middle, why won’t you do that? Why would you want to have the top five as right-handers?”

The chief coach said their decision is not based on numbers and stats and they try to back a player who they feel can deliver for them at a particular batting position.

“We don’t look at averages and stats and all that stuff. We look at who can deliver more at that number,” Gambhir said. 

“And Axar has done fabulously well. Both the games (against England) he got the opportunity, he delivered for us. I know there will always be people talking about it. But I think that’s the way we want to go in the future as well,” Gambhir said.

Patel’s promotion in the batting order means Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul will bat one slot down. India will kick off their Champions Trophy campaign against Bangladesh at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai on February 20.