Indian all-rounder Axar Patel has revealed that there are not enough rough patches on the pitch as they expected after the end of Day 4 at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad on Sunday. The track hasn’t provided much help for the bowlers as only 19 wickets have fallen in four days.
The pitch is still good for batting as there isn’t enough pace and it is a batting paradise for both teams. Australia had amassed 480 runs after Usman Khawaja and Cameron Green scored respective centuries.
In response, India scored 571 runs after Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli scored 128 and 186 respectively. Furthermore, Axar Patel scored 79 runs and added a fine alliance of 162 runs with Virat Kohli for the sixth wicket.
On the other hand, Australian bowlers had to toil hard as there was hardly any help for them. Australia bowled a total of 178.5 overs and they couldn’t get any assistance from the surface.
“It’s the fifth day and since we are bowling for four days, there are some rough patches on the pitch, but not as much as we expected. It’s still a pretty hard wicket,” Axar was quoted as saying in the post-match press conference.
“It’s important to push yourself and take wickets when a new batter comes in. When a batter gets set, it’s hard as bowlers are not getting enough purchases. We will try and not to allow batters to settle down tomorrow morning,” he added.
India took a lead of 91 runs and they have put themselves in front in the Test match. However, the chances of the match ending in a draw are more as there isn’t much help for the spinners.
Meanwhile, Patel has scored 264 runs in five innings at an average of 88 and he would look to continue the good show in the upcoming matches.