‘Don’t care what people say’: Gautam Gambhir confirms Axar Patel at five in ODIs

India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir has firmly underlined the value of batting Axar Patel at No 5 in the current team when it comes to ODIs and has no time to think about what the outside world has to say about it. 

While Axar’s most famous innings at No 5 when wearing an India jersey came during last year’s ICC T20 World Cup final in Barbados when he smacked four sixes in a 31-ball 47, it is the left-handed allrounder’s run of scores at that spot in ODI cricket that has left Gambhir very assured. 

Having been used at No 5 in ODIs once in 2016 and then on another occasion in 2023, Axar has found himself inked in to bat at that spot in six of his last 10 matches. From these opportunities, he has scores of 44, 52, 41*, 8, 42 and 27 at an average of 42.80 and with a strike-rate of 90.29 to vindicate the team’s decision to send him higher than KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer (once), Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja. Also in this time, Axar has struck 22 of his career 44 fours and six of his overall 30 sixes in ODIs.

Speaking – at times rather tersely – to reporters in Dubai on Tuesday night after India’s four-wicket win over Australia in the first semi-final of the ICC Champions Trophy, Gambhir re-emphasized a comment from last month during the home ODI series against England, when he stressed on the importance of a right-left combination. 

“We don’t care what people say. He’s a quality player and this is how cricket is meant to be played, this is how we will play this sport. We know the quality and ability that Axar has and we’re going to keep giving him that opportunity at No 5 so that he can keep performing,” said Gambhir. “And most importantly, so that he can keep expressing himself and display his talent to the world. He’s made a reasonable amount of contributions since he started batting a No 5 and people can keep talking about it, but that is where Axar will bat. It’s very important. It’s not about individuals, its about what we want as a team.” 

This was a view endorsed by India’s captain Rohit Sharma before the semi-final against Australia. “That is something that we wanted from him, and the clear message was given to him when we started the ODI series against England, that no matter what the situation is, you will bat at 5,” said Rohit on Sunday.  

“And the kind of improvement he’s shown with his bat over the last year or so is superb to watch. And that is where we felt that we can utilize him to bat in the middle and bat freely.”

Speaking to reporters in Dubai after Sunday’s match against New Zealand, in which he made 42 off 61 deliveries after walking in with India’s score 30/3, Axar had said that the importance of understanding his role was vital.

“When I get an opportunity, I try to bat based on the situation. But now, the approach has changed. Earlier, I used to come down and had to make runs quickly. Now, I know that there are more batsmen behind me, so I can play accordingly,” he said that day. “I know that I have a lot of time. It depends on the requirement of the team as well and if I feel that I have to attack the spinner, I play accordingly like I had a partnership in this match, and we could have a good total.” 

With Axar doing well at No 5 in the past two series and justifying the team’s focus on a right-left combination, it appears that Rishabh Pant’s chances are receding in ODIs. Rahul has most often been pushed down to No 6, and at times No 7, whenever the management has promoted Axar. Pandya remains a fixture in this team, and Jadeja might just have won himself a lifeline in ODIs with his form against England at home and now at the Champions Trophy.