NEW DELHI: India all-rounder Axar Patel admitted he was guilty of trying to overhit the ball during the grueling T20I series against England, saying a change in mindset and greater faith in timing helped him produce an all-round match-winning performance in the opening ODI at Edgbaston.Axar, who was named the Player of the Match, starred with both bat and ball as India recovered from their 0-4 T20I series defeat to register a six-wicket win in the first ODI. The left-arm spinner returned figures of 4/62 in 9.5 overs before scoring 57 off 52 balls, guiding India to a successful chase of 259 with 28 balls to spare.Captain: Shubman Gill (80 retired injury) and Washington Sundar (52 not out) also made valuable contributions as India took a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
Axar explains T20I struggles
Reflecting on his poor T20I return, where he managed just 19 runs in four innings, Axar said he realized he had sacrificed technique in pursuit of power.“It is very important for me to give this kind of performance. Regarding my mindset, I have to keep it going. I have to stay focused rather than thinking that it will happen by itself. I have to have self-confidence and execute my plans,” Axar told JioStar.“I feel like I try to hit the ball during T20Is,” he said.The 32-year-old explained that batting in the death overs during the T20 series forced him to play high-risk strokes, which affected his balance at the crease.“When you come in to bat in the death overs, you have no choice but to go for the big shots, but I lost my form a little bit. So, when I came in to bat in this game, after our good start, I just wanted to build a partnership,” he explained.
Power timing pays dividends
Axar said the slow surface at Edgbaston required patience, prompting him to rely on his timing rather than fixing the ball.“I didn’t try to hit the ball too much because I knew I had time and was able to get some balls as well.He added that the conditions made life difficult for new batters, with bounce, swing and seam movement rewarding those willing to spend time at the crease before attacking.Axar also assured the return of senior stars Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli:Jasprit Bumrah and KL Rahul, who say their presence brings peace and confidence in the dressing room.“We’ve been playing with each other for a long time. Everyone knows their roles, there’s unity, and you can see that on the field as well. It creates a relaxed atmosphere,” he said.India will look to seal the three-match ODI series when they face England in the second match in Cardiff on Thursday.