Axar Patel had a great night in the fourth T20I match against Australia at Carrara Oval in Queensland. He put together one of those all-around performances that shows everyone why he’s such an important player for India. The left-arm spinner was named Player of the Match, and he wasn’t afraid to say that the conditions on the pitch played a big role in his success. The strange nature of that ground, with its slow surface and unpredictable bounce, made it hard for batters and easy for bowlers.
Patel’s performance was so impressive because he could do so many different things. He came in during India’s innings and hit an unbeaten 21 runs off of just 11 balls, giving his team the boost they needed. Then he changed gears completely and slipped the ball through Australia’s batting order, ending with a neat 2/20. That’s the kind of two-way effect that changes close games.
“I don’t think number 6 or 7 is my favoured position”- Axar Patel
Axar Patel changed the game’s direction in India’s favor by scoring two goals in a row. He got Matthew Short out lbw after he had scored 25 runs off of 19 balls. Then he bowled through Josh Inglis’s defenses with a clean delivery that sent him back for only 12 runs. Those two quick outs gave India a strong lead in the match.
Patel talked about his game plan after his great performance. He had looked at the pitch before and noticed something important: the surface was slow and the bounce was unpredictable. He used that knowledge to his advantage perfectly when he took the ball in the second innings, taking advantage of conditions that might have been hard for others.
“Yeah, I had a chance when I got to bat at number 7. I looked at the wicket, and spoke to the batters. The message was that the pitch is offering unexpected bounce and it is on the slower side. I just held my position and hit the right lengths. I think where team needs me, that’s my favoured position. If I come up with an impactful performance for my team, that’s best for me. I don’t think number 6 or 7 is my favoured position. Whatever my teams needs me to, I just go and do that,” said Patel in the post-match presentation.
The last match will be played in Brisbane on November 8.
