IND Vs AFG: Axar Patel Unhappy With Umpire For Not Letting Him Fight In Mohali

Indian All-Rounder Axar Patel once again proved his prowess and displayed his economical and tight line-length bowling as India cruised over Afghanistan by 6 wickets in the 1st of a 3-match T20 series on home soil. As India started the series in style, the Gujarat-born cricketer also produced a moment of fun with the Umpire.

The fixture took place up North in Punjab’s Mohali Cricket Ground where the weather is currently going below 10 degrees. Yesterday the temperature had dropped to 7 degrees and it was the Afghani and Indian players who had to suffer the wrath of the bone-chilling conditions in a state which is adjacent to the valleys of Himachal Pradesh.

Players were put to the test and it was the home team that prevailed and began their preparation for the T20 World Cup in the best way possible. One of India’s best performers was Axar Patel who ended with figures of 2/23 in his quota of 4 overs.

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Although he did not get a chance to contribute with the bat, Axar did not fail to make an impression with the ball and put himself in the conversation to start for India in the T20 WC. Despite his fantastic outing, Axar Patel could not beat the cold as he is a human after all.

Axar Patel Reveals Conversation With Umpire At Mohali

To feel a little warm, Axar asked the umpire if he could put on gloves in one hand while bowling to which the umpire denied. The incident was caught on camera and everyone watching that incident had a moment of fun amid the intense competition.

“I wasn’t feeling the ball, it was very cold. We knew it was winter and would be cold, but I was only thinking about my bowling, and how to put pressure on them. There was a lot of dew, but I focused on my accuracy. I had asked the umpire if I can wear a glove in one hand, but he said no.” – Axar Patel said.

Meanwhile, it was Axar Patel’s first appearance in the shortest format since December 2023. He took part in all of India’s 5 T20Is against Australia right after the Cricket World Cup final and the lefty’s main objective at the moment will be to try and break into the Indian starting XI for the T20 World Cup in June.

For that, Axar will not just have to make sure he performs well in this series but also in the IPL which will end a few weeks before the 20-team tournament. Last year Axar Patel was axed for Ravichandran Ashwin in India’s CWC squad due to injury and the All-Rounder had also expressed his grief on social media after it.

With 47 wickets and 361 runs to his name in 51 T20Is, Axar is undoubtedly going to get selected for the T20 WC but it remains to be seen if he can start ahead of Ravindra Jadeja.