Axar Patel has been named vice-captain of India’s T20I side ahead of the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup, a leadership role that reflects how far he’s come in his career. Patel described how his development as a cricketer has been driven by becoming more mature, confident and aware of tactical demands.
He noted that leading the Delhi Capitals in the IPL bolstered his understanding of game strategy and player roles, saying, “A combination of confidence and clear mindset has made my journey smooth over the last two years. The reward is that I am also in the leadership group now.”
However, the path hasn’t been straightforward. Despite a significant contribution in the 2024 T20 World Cup final—where he scored a vital 47 runs—Patel was surprisingly later dropped from the team.
Reflecting on that difficult phase, he revealed how he initially struggled with inconsistency and had to work on his mental approach after being omitted in earlier phases of his career. “Those days were very difficult for me… I knew what to do in the last T20 World Cup final when I went out to bat under pressure. I was very calm,” he said, illustrating how adversity helped him develop resilience.
Patel also spoke candidly about how that tough period made him rethink his weaknesses, particularly in batting, and how advice from MS Dhoni played a key role in restoring his self-belief. “He told me… I put pressure on myself by thinking I had to perform all the time… I regained my confidence,” he shared, underlining how personal setbacks shaped his progress.
Evolving Role in India’s Batting Lineup
With a flexible batting order now part of India’s strategy, Patel says he embraces responsibility wherever the team asks him to fit in. He stressed that his role is well-defined and clear, adding, “If I’ve been sent up the order, that means the team trusts me… I am given a role like any other specialist batter.” His growing versatility—as both a bowler and a batter—is now a valuable asset in India’s T20 setup.
Balancing Personality and Professionalism
Off the field, Patel describes himself as light-hearted and fun-loving, yet he draws a line when it comes to work ethic. “My nature is to be a fun-loving guy, but when you’re a senior player… you have to draw a line,” he explained, highlighting the balance he strikes between team camaraderie and seriousness in competition.
When asked how he relaxes, Patel shared that he enjoys downtime alone, sometimes watching YouTube unrelated to cricket—especially Korean dramas and PUBG mobile tournaments—while consciously avoiding his past performances unless preparing for a big event.
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