NEW DELHI: India all-rounder Axar Patel admitted he was guilty of trying to overhit the ball during the disastrous T20I series against England, saying a change in mindset and greater faith in timing helped him produce a match-winning all-round performance in the opening ODI at Edgbaston.Axar, who was named Player of the Match, starred with both bat and ball as India bounced back from their 0-4 T20I series defeat to register a six-wicket victory in the first ODI. The left-arm spinner returned figures of 4/62 in 9.5 overs before scoring a composed 57 off 52 balls, guiding India to a successful chase of 259 with 28 balls to spare. Captain Shubman Gill (80 retired hurt) and Washington Sundar (52 not out) also made valuable contributions as India took a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
Axar explains T20I struggles
Reflecting on his poor T20I returns, where he managed just 19 runs in four innings, Axar said he had realised he was sacrificing technique in search of power.“It was very important for me to deliver this kind of performance. As for my mindset, I needed to keep at it. I had to stay focused rather than thinking it would just happen on its own. I had to have self-belief and execute my plans,” Axar told JioStar.“I feel like I was trying to hit the ball too hard during the T20Is,” he said.The 32-year-old explained that batting in the death overs during the T20 series forced him into playing high-risk strokes, affecting his balance at the crease.“When you go in to bat in the death overs, you don’t have any other option but to go for big shots, but I was losing my shape a little. So, when I went in to bat in this game, after we got a great start, I just wanted to build a partnership,” he explained.
Timing over power pays dividends
Axar said the slower Edgbaston surface demanded patience, prompting him to trust his timing rather than muscle the ball.“I wasn’t trying to hit the ball too hard because I knew I had time and could afford to take a few balls as well. I was focusing on my timing,” he said.He added that the conditions made life difficult for new batters, with bounce, swing and seam movement rewarding those willing to spend time at the crease before attacking.Axar also credited the return of senior stars Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah and KL Rahul, saying their presence brought calmness and confidence to the dressing room.
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“We have been playing alongside each other for a long time. Everyone knows their roles, there is unity, and you can see that on the field too. It creates a very relaxed atmosphere,” he said.India will look to seal the three-match ODI series when they face England in the second match in Cardiff on Thursday.