Indian all-rounder Axar Patel believes Shubman Gill’s impressive batting was the biggest positive for the team in the three-match series against Zimbabwe. Gill scored 245 runs in the three matches at an average of 122.50 and a strike rate of 120.69 as he batted at the top of his game throughout the series.
The right-hander scored a magnum opus knock of 130 runs off just 97 balls in the third ODI to score his maiden International hundred. Gill has been in fine form as he had scored 205 runs in three matches against the West Indies. Thus, he has been awarded the Player of the Series award in both of these series.
Gill was able to time the ball to perfection and grabbed his chance with both hands. The right-hander was given the opportunity to open the innings in the series against West Indies and did a fine job with Shikhar Dhawan. While opening in the first ODI against Zimbabwe, Gill scored a fine knock of 82 runs and then continued his good form while batting at one down in the remaining two matches.
“The way he’s batting, the way he’s converting singles and doubles, the way he’s not playing a lot of dot balls, that to me is the biggest positive,” Axar Patel said.
“When he’s batting, there are always singles and twos coming and he’s able to put the bad balls for boundaries. He players spinners well, rotates the strike and even plays the sweep and reverse sweep well.”
Meanwhile, Sikander Raza scored a brilliant knock of 115 runs off just 95 balls and gave India a big scare as he was threatening to get his team over the line in the run-chase.
“We had discussed in the team meeting that we will bat first if we won the toss,” Axar said after India’s win. “Some guys are going for Asia Cup and they hadn’t got enough batting practice. So that was a challenge.
“We had put up a good total. When they came out to bat, they were scoring at a good rate. When a few wickets fell, we felt we have again taken control of the game. But the way Sikandar Raza batted in the last 10 overs, we felt that he could take the team over the line. But we backed our plan and that we wouldn’t relax till the end – whether wickets falls or doesn’t. That really helped us.”
India will be delighted that their bowlers were able to hold their nerves in the end to win the third ODI. Axar Patel also did a fine job as he scalped two wickets and conceded only 30 runs in his quota of 10 overs.
