Last Update on: August 8th, 2023 at 12:48 pm
Former India batsman, Wasim Jaffer said that it will be tough for Hardik Pandya, the stand-in captain of the Men in Blues to use Axar Patel correctly in the third T20I match against West Indies on Tuesday (August 08) at Providence Stadium, Guyana.
While speaking to ESPNcricinfo, Jaffer once again said that he was surprised to see Yuzvendra Chahal not coming to bowl in the 18th over of the second T20I match against the Caribbeans.
Jaffer further added that it has been the same problem with Axar Patel from his IPL career and even For the Men in Blues, that whenever a left-handed comes on the crease, everyone thinks the all-rounder won’t bowl.
“That has been the problem with Axar Patel starting from his IPL franchise to the national team. Whenever a left-hander comes into the crease, it feels like he is not going to bowl. I can understand when Nicholas Pooran is on strike, but I thought when he and Shimron Hetmyer got out, I was surprised that he was not thrown the ball there. Obviously, you had Yuzvendra Chahal to bowl his final over and I was honestly surprised that he did not bowl,” Wasim Jaffer said.
Why does Hardik Pandya have to use Axar Patel correctly?
In his recent interview, Wasim Jaffer reminded how Axar Patel was smashed six and fours by Nicholas Pooran when the all-rounder came to bowl during the powerplay in the first T20I match against West Indies and further added that the 29-year-old skipper have to use him properly in the upcoming match on Tuesday (August 08).
“It is going to be a challenge for Hardik Pandya as to when and how to use Axar Patel. In the 1st T20I, he bowled him in the powerplay. He got hit for a 6 and a 4 by Nicholas Pooran and that’s a risk that you need to take,” Wasim Jaffer on Axar Patel.
India are coming into this match after losing the first two games against West Indies which keeps the Men in Blues in pressure since they need to win the third T20I game to still win the 20-over series.