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ToggleFormer Pakistani pacer Shoaib Akhtar has lauded Indian spinner Axar Patel and even claimed that the left-arm tweaker may become the fastest to reach the 100-wicket mark in Test cricket. Axar played in three Test matches for India, making his debut in the second Test in Chennai.
He ended up with 27 wickets in 3 Test matches at an average of 10.59 with four fifers and one ten-wicket haul. His best bowling in an innings was 6/38 and in a match was 11/70, which came in the pink-ball Test match at Ahmedabad.
Axar Patel emerged as the new star for Team India, assisting Ravichandran Ashwin in the demolition of the England team. Shoaib Akhtar was highly impressed with Axar’s performances and praised him a lot.
Axar Patel Is An Intelligent Bowler: Shoaib Akhtar
Axar Patel took full advantage of the helpful pitches and had the intelligence to outsmart the England batsmen, said Shoaib Akhtar.
“Not only did he get a suitable wicket to bowl on, but he is an intelligent bowler too. He wouldn’t have given a chance to the English players when the control was in his hands, and that is what he did. If he keeps getting a few series like this, he might just become fastest bowler to 100 wickets. Having said that, England should have played him better,” Akhtar said on his YouTube channel.
If Rishabh Pant And Washington Sundar Can Score Runs, Why Can’t The English: Shoaib Akhtar
Akhtar was critical of the fact that England batsmen and for them to be fixated on the pitch only and not on their batting. He mentioned that Indians also played on the same pitches, but still scored runs.
“While many might talk about the wickets in the series, but look how India scored 365. They also played on the same wickets, where the England batsmen struggled. If Rishabh Pant and Washington Sundar can score runs, why can’t the English. With utmost ease, India has beaten England in the series, and sealed a spot in the final of the World Test Championship final,” Shoaib Akhtar said.
“All in all, it was an embarrassing defeat for the England team, and they have got a reality check in India. But they need to now learn the art of playing spin in the sub-continent well. Not sure, how are they going to lift themselves up from this humiliating defeat and motivate themselves to play better,” Akhtar signed off.