Axar Patel
Axar Patel. Image-Twitter

India all-rounder Axar Patel said that the team Vikram Rathour, the batting coach, and the team management has trusted him with his batting skills.

The left-hander repaid that trust in the Mumbai Test against New Zealand: he scored a crucial 52-run knock of 128 balls in the first innings; in the second innings, when quick runs were the demand, Axar Patel smashed 41* off 26 balls, wherein he thumped three boundaries and four sixes.

Axar Patel said that he was happy to convert his starts in both innings to a significant score.

Axar Patel
Axar Patel (Image: ICC/Twitter)

“My endeavour is to keep improving and look at areas where I need to get better. All the hardwork that I have put in all these years have finally yielded results this year,” Axar Patel said after the third day’s play.

“The batting coach (Vicky Rathour) and team management has faith in my batting abilities, and they have always told me that ‘you can do it’. Earlier, when I got chances, I couldn’t convert my starts but this time when I got chances, I was able to convert.

“My batting is benefitting my team and if you see that myself, Jaddu and Ash bhai play as all-rounders, it releases a bit of pressure on our batters, so its a good sign. As long as I keep contributing it’s good for both me and my team,” he added.

This has been my dream year: Axar Patel

This has clearly been a dream year for Axar Patel: he bagged 27 wickets in 3 Tests versus England, he took a five-fer in Kanpur against New Zealand; in between, he had a fantastic IPL season as well, which saw him getting picked as one of the reserves in India’s T20 World Cup squad.

Axar Patel, India, Day/Night Test
Axar Patel (Image Credit: Twitter)

“Actually, this has been my dream year you can say. The way I bowled in England series and now how the New Zealand series panned out, in between there was IPL so I can say that this has really been a good year for me personally,” the Gujarat all-rounder said.

India declared at 276/7 in the second innings, setting New Zealand a huge target of 540. By stumps on Day 3, the Kiwis have lost 5 wickets for 140 runs.

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