Axar Patel has had a dream start to his Test career for India. Replacing the injured Ravindra Jadeja, Patel now has two five-wicket haul bowling in three innings.
After electing to bat first, England got bowled out for 112 in the first innings of the ongoing day-night Test match in Ahmedabad. Axar Patel took 6 out of those 10 English wickets, with 3 for R Ashwin and a solitary scalp for Ishant Sharma who is playing in his 100th Test.
The left-arm spinner took a 5-for in the second innings of the second Chennai Test, which was his debut game, expediting India’s victory. He now has 13 wickets in his short 3-innings Test career at a scarcely believable average of 10.62.
Axar Patel’s biggest weapon is his arm ball: Sanjay Manjrekar
It was just the first session of the match that has encapsulated Axar Patel’s brilliance and has put him as a sure back-up for Ravindra Jadeja for the foreseeable future. In the first session, on Wednesday, Axar trapped Jonny Bairstow with his first ball of the match and Zak Crawley just a couple of overs before Tea – as is the case in the day-night contest- leg before wicket.
Sanjay Manjrekar and the rest of the experts have lauded Patel for his smartness in using his variations; Patel mixed up his stock ball, the off-spinning ball turning away from the right-hander, with his arm-ball, which goes with the angle in towards the right-handed batsman – add it to his accuracy, speed and height making him a lethal weapon on any surface in any conditions.
“Just brilliant with accuracy, speed and his biggest weapon, that arm ball going straight on a turner.. Axar has been a real find for India in Tests,” tweeted Sanjay Manjrekar.
Just brilliant with accuracy, speed and his biggest weapon, that arm ball going straight on a turner.. Axar has been a real find for India in Tests. 👏👏👏#PinkBallTest
— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) February 24, 2021
What an over from @akshar2026. Best one of the match so far.#INDvENG
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) February 24, 2021
