IND vs AUS: Irfan Pathan Highlights Axar Patel's Importance in India's Squad for Upcoming ODI World Cup 2023

Former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan expressed concern about Axar Patel’s injury and hopes for his fitness ahead of the much-awaited ODI World Cup 2023. Irfan Pathan emphasized the importance of Axar Patel’s role in India’s squad, stating that he can add depth to the batting lineup.

Axar Patel missed the Asia Cup 2023 final due to a left quadriceps strain sustained during the Bangladesh match. The left-handed batter was ruled out of the first two games against Australia in the upcoming series. However, he was included in India’s squad for the third ODI, subject to fitness.

Axar Patel Is An Extremely Fit Guy – Irfan Pathan

During a discussion on Star Sports, Irfan Pathan mentioned that Axar Patel‘s role will be crucial for India at the No. 8, considering his good form with the bat in the Asia Cup 2023.

“He got hit in two or three places, so we don’t know how serious it is. However, he is an extremely fit guy, which means he might recover quicker and it’s not that he is a very aged player,” Pathan told Star Sports.

“It is extremely necessary for the Indian team to get him fit and come back. I feel India will need his batting at No. 8 because he has shown form on Sri Lankan pitches where it is slightly difficult to bat,” he added.

The southpaw has amassed 481 runs in 34 ODI innings with an average of 20.04 and a strike rate of 101.69. However, the batter has shown improved performance over the last year, scoring 168 runs in six innings with an impressive average of 42.00 and a strike rate of 120.00.

We See Washington Sundar Only In His Place – Piyush Chawla

Veteran leg-spinner Piyush Chawla believes that Washington Sundar is the likely replacement for Axar Patel, as the team has shown confidence in him by including him in the Asia Cup final.

“If Axar Patel doesn’t get fit, we see Washington Sundar only in his place because once he came, he straightaway played in the final of the Asia Cup. It means the team have shown a lot of confidence in him, so Washington Sundar,” Chawla said.

Washington Sundar replaced Axar Patel in the Asia Cup 2023 final match but didn’t get a chance to bat or bowl. Sundar or Ravichandran Ashwin might replace Axar if he doesn’t make it to the World Cup. Two off-spinners were named in India’s squad for the upcoming ODI series.

Also read: IND vs AUS: Not Ravichandran Ashwin Or Washington Sundar! Harbhajan Singh Picks Axar Patel’s Replacement