Dubai, March 3 – Indian cricketer Axar Patel is swiftly establishing himself as a key all-rounder in white-ball cricket, crediting "self-belief" as the vital factor behind his transformation.
On Sunday, Axar's impactful 42 runs, followed by the crucial wicket of Kane Williamson, significantly contributed to India's emphatic 44-run victory over New Zealand in the Champions Trophy encounter held in Dubai.
Reflecting on his journey, Axar shared his personal experience of overcoming internal hurdles. "Earlier, I wasn't clicking, and it kept nagging me that I wasn't showcasing my true potential," he told reporters post-match. "Perhaps I was putting unnecessary pressure on myself despite knowing I had the talent."
However, it was his explosive unbeaten innings of 64 runs off just 35 balls against the West Indies at Barbados in 2022 that marked a turning point for Axar. That innings powered India to chase down an imposing target of 312 and significantly boosted his self-confidence.
"After that innings against the West Indies, I realized my ability to finish games. Once I gained that self-belief, I stopped overthinking about proving my batting to others," Axar explained. "I knew that by giving 100 percent, consistent performances would naturally follow."
Batting Promotion Enhancing Axar's Role
Axar also credited his elevation to the No. 5 batting position in limited-overs cricket for aiding his development as a reliable all-rounder."Earlier, coming lower down the order, I had limited time and needed to score rapidly. Now at number five, with more specialist batters behind me, I have the liberty to adapt according to the team's needs," he noted.
Highlighting his match-defining 98-run partnership with Shreyas Iyer against New Zealand, Axar mentioned, "If the team requires aggression, especially against spinners, I approach accordingly. Today, our partnership was key to setting up a competitive total."
Praise for Varun Chakravarthy's Stellar Bowling
Axar didn't miss an opportunity to praise teammate Varun Chakravarthy, whose brilliant bowling figures of 5 for 42 were instrumental in India's win."All credit to Varun," Axar remarked. "The 2021 T20 World Cup wasn't easy for him, but his comeback since then shows tremendous mental strength. He's successfully translating his T20 success into ODI cricket."
Explaining Chakravarthy’s effectiveness, Axar added, "Varun is particularly challenging because he's tough to read from the hand and bowls at deceptive speeds. His pace through the air makes it difficult for batsmen, increasing the chances of mistakes."
Axar Patel's growing confidence and consistency bode well for India’s white-ball ambitions, with his performances clearly reflecting the impact of self-belief and strategic batting elevation.