India’s left-arm orthodox spinner Axar Patel has had a perfect start to his Test career. Patel scalped 11-70 and registered the best bowling figures ever in the history of pink-ball Test matches.
The spinner from Gujarat took 6-38 in the first innings of the third Test match at the Narendra Modi Stadium whereas he backed it with 5-32 in the second essay. Thus, Patel was awarded the Player of the match as India won by 10 wickets on Thursday at the Narendra Modi Stadium.
In fact, Patel took a wicket on the first ball he bowled in both innings. The off-spinner dismissed Jonny Bairstow in the first innings whereas he got rid of Zak Crawley in the second dig. The 27-year old got most of his dismissals through LBW and bowled as he bowls mostly at the stumps.
Patel revealed that his strength is to bowl wicket to wicket at the stumps and not give much room to the batsmen. Axar is mostly right on the money with his line and length and hardly bowls a loose ball in his spell. Thus, he keeps the pressure on the batsman as he is economical with the ball.
Axar Patel said in the post-match presentation, “When it happens, it feels so easy. I am not thinking much. I want to continue this form. I am happy that if I am not contributing with the bat, I am doing it with the ball. My strength is to bowl wicket-to-wicket and not give him room. The mindset of batters is they play out a couple of maidens, they either go for a sweep or try to hit over the infield”.
On the other hand, it is also noticed that Rishabh Pant addresses Patel as ‘Wasim Bhai’ from behind the stumps. Patel revealed that as his arm ball is lethal, the team’s vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane gave him that name.
Patel added, “They call me Wasim Bhai (Wasim Akram) because they feel my arm ball is very lethal. Ajju Bhai (Ajinkya Rahane) called me that and Pant has picked it up. I would want this wicket to remain the same for the final Test as well as I am picking up wickets”.
Patel will look to continue the good show and he has had a dream start to his career. The left-arm spinner has scalped 18 wickets in the two Test matches at a splendid average of 9.44 and he has been the pick of the Indian bowlers along with Ravichandran Ashwin.
The fourth Test match begins on March 4 at the same venue.
