'Only openers are fixed': Axar Patel exposes chaos in Indian T20I batting order

Team India T20I vice-captain Axar Patel shared insights into the national team's approach ahead of the five-match T20I series against England on home soil. Axar Patel said that only openers have fixed positions, and the rest of the batting order, consisting of "multiple floaters," must remain flexible.

Ahead of the Champions Trophy, India is set to host England for a five-match T20I series followed by three ODIs. Suryakumar Yadav will lead the Indian T20 side with Axar Patel serving as vice-captain. The T20I series will begin on January 22, with the series opener taking place at Eden Gardens in Kolkata.

Team India Remains Unbeaten in T20I Series Since T20 World Cup 2024 Victory

The Men in Blue's T20I team is viewed as a more settled unit compared to their ODI and Test squads. After winning the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 against South Africa last year, they have remained unbeaten in the T20I series. The squad is a blend of youth and experience, with strong results so far.

While the upcoming T20I series against England holds no immediate significance, it will be crucial for India to test their bench strength and begin forming a core for the 2026 T20 World Cup. India will need their batters to be in top form, attacking from the start to dominate England in the series.

Middle Order Will Come To Bat Depending On The Match Situation - Axar Patel

In a press conference on Monday, Axar Patel was asked about being a floater in the batting order. Patel explained that while openers have fixed positions, the rest of the batting order, from No. 3 to 7, is flexible, with players being assigned roles based on the situation, team combinations, and match-ups.

"Batting wise, it's not just with me, but we spoke in 2023-24 itself that the openers are fixed, but everyone from Nos. 3 to 7 have been told that they can come into bat anytime, in any situation. It is not just that one batter will bat at a particular position," Axar told reporters on Monday.

"Our middle order will come to bat depending on the match situation, what kind of bowlers are bowling at the time, which match-up works well."

"We've spoken about that, how we can all be floaters, be it coming in early or obviously finishing. This is not just for me, but for everyone from No. 3 and below, especially if they are in good touch in the nets. We will adjust accordingly. In T20Is, how you use your batters is so crucial, so this is an important factor in batting."

India Has Effectively Used Axar Patel As A Floater In Recent Years

In recent years, India has effectively used Axar Patel as a floater, following his significant improvements with the bat. He averaged 21.26 with a strike rate of 131.25 in T20s until 2022, but he has since raised his average to 30.32 with a strike rate of 145.62 from 2023 onwards.

His versatility has allowed him to bat in various positions, scoring six half-centuries for India, Delhi Capitals, and Gujarat. India has also experimented with other players like Hardik Pandya, Tilak Varma, Nitish Reddy, Washington Sundar, and Rinku Singh in floating roles.

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