Aakash Chopra stated that Axar Patel has improved a lot when considering his ODI performance during the games played against weaker teams.
Aakash Chopra on Axar Patel’s improved ODI performance
Axar Patel has been well-settled with India’s low-order batting line-up which has helped the side in close call games. He has been placed in the 15-member squad for the World Cup. But with the injury he sustained during the Asia Cup campaign, doubts have been raised over his fitness for the upcoming World Cup in India.
He sustained an injury due to a blow on the forearm during India’s Super Fours match against Bangladesh and also suffered a quadricep injury lately in the match. Hence, he was not placed in the playing 11 of the finals in the Asia Cup against Sri Lanka where Washington Sundar replaced him in the squad.
It is said that Axar had a small tear and will take 10 days to recover and management will be noticing his recovery progress.
On this occasion, Aakash Chopra has admitted that Axar Patel’s figures have improved a lot in these years saying that, “Axar Patel’s batting and bowling average has improved. But let’s be honest – a lot of his games have been against slightly weaker teams. Since the 2019 World Cup, he has scored 300 runs in 14 ODIs at an average of 30 and a strike rate of 106, which includes two fifties, which is very good,” in his Youtube channel.
“Two of these games have been against West Indies, one against Zimbabwe, one against Bangladesh, and three against Sri Lanka. His numbers against bigger sides haven’t been tested that well,” Chopra added.
He further said that Axar’s bowling stats including his economy are similar to Ravindra Jadeja.
With his injury, Ravichandran Ashwin will be replacing Axar Patel on the squad for the three match ODI series against Australia. With the senior players rested in the series, KL Rahul will be leading the team for the ODI series.
“In bowling, since the 2019 World Cup, in 15 innings he has claimed 14 wickets at an average of 35 and an economy of 4.2. So, his economy rate is also good. The full story is that Jadeja’s stats are not that good, while Axar’s seem slightly better, but he is injured,” Chopra commented.
The first match of Australia’s ODI series against India will be set to begin on September 22 at Punjab National Association Stadium.
