"Never thought I’d be dropped again": Axar Patel attacks Ajit Agarkar, Gautam Gambhir

Team India all-rounder Axar Patel has said that the T20 World Cup 2024 final was a turning point in his career, as he stopped being seen as a backup option in the national team. Axar stated that he never viewed left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja as competition and instead focused on improving his game.

Team India will play a three-match ODI series against New Zealand, starting with the first match in Vadodara on Sunday, January 11. The BCCI recently announced the squad, with Shubman Gill returning to the Indian cricket team and taking over as captain, while Axar missed out on selection for the series.

Axar Patel Left Out Again as Selectors Prefer Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar for ODIs

Axar Patel has not been picked for India’s last two ODI series, despite performing well earlier, including during the Australia tour. Many expected him to retain his place in the squad after those performances.

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Ravindra Jadeja has been selected ahead of Axar for the series against South Africa and New Zealand. Over the past year, Axar’s bowling has stayed strong, and he has improved his batting, especially against fast bowlers, making him more confident and reliable with the bat.

The selectors have continued with Jadeja and Washington Sundar, the same combination used in the previous ODI series. Axar can feel unlucky to miss out, as he has been an important white-ball player for India in recent years, and his absence could affect the team’s balance.

Never Thought I Would Be Dropped Again - Axar Patel

Speaking to the Times of India, Axar Patel said that he was no longer a backup option for Ravindra Jadeja, as the management created space for both all-rounders to play together. Axar added that after the T20 World Cup final, he felt confident about his place in the team and did not expect to be dropped.

"Absolutely. Since then or just before the T20 World Cup, I have never been seen as a replacement for Jaddu bhai. A spot was created for me. Jaddu bhai and I started playing together," Patel told TOI.

"I was never competing with Jaddu bhai. When I used to practice, I used to think what else I could add to my game so that they could never drop me. After the T20 WC final, I never thought I would be dropped again."

Axar Patel Strengthens T20I Spot, Pushes for ODI Regular Role

Axar Patel strengthened his place in India’s T20I side after Ravindra Jadeja retired from the format. Even though India have other strong bowlers like Varun Chakravarthy and Kuldeep Yadav, Axar can adjust well to different match situations.

He can bowl at any stage, including the Powerplay, and uses a tight, straight line to control scoring. With the bat, he offers flexibility and can move up the order when the team needs balance. Because of this all-round value, he is just as important as Hardik Pandya.

In ODIs, Axar is still not a regular pick, but he has made a strong case through domestic cricket. Playing for Gujarat in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, he recently scored his first List A hundred and followed it with another quick half-century, showing his growing impact in the 50-over format.

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