World Cup 2023 problem solved! Axar Patel's promotion gets backing ahead of IND-PAK match in CT 2025

Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar has backed the idea of Axar Patel batting at No. 5 in India's batting order in ODI cricket. Manjrekar feels that Axar Patel's promotion has helped India sort out their problem of having too many right-handers in the batting order.

Allrounder Axar Patel was given a new batting position in ODI cricket by the new team management led by the head coach Gautam Gambhir and skipper Rohit Sharma. The left-hander has made the most of his new batting spot so far with some useful returns.

Although he missed out in the first match against New Zealand, Axar will be itching to score runs against Pakistan. The all-rounder will be key to India's chances as he can make an impact with both bat and ball.

Also read: India create unwanted world record after losing toss to Pakistan in ICC Champions Trophy 2025

Axar Patel's promotion gets backing from Sanjay Manjrekar

While speaking to JioHotstar, Sanjay Manjrekar backed the idea of promoting Axar Patel to No. 5 in the batting order to ensure a left-right combination. He feels that Axar can attack the left-arm spinners or the legspinners in the middle overs.

"KL Rahul got some time in the last game, which is good, but I guess Axar (Patel) comes in only to make sure there's a left-hand right-hand combination, and if there's a left-hand spinner bowling or a leg spinner who's major main delivery is the leg spinner then makes sense for a left-hander to come in and Axar Patel has been brilliant," Manjrekar said.

In the ODI series against England prior to this Champions Trophy, Patel scored 106 runs in three matches at an average of 53 and a strike rate of 103.92. The left-hander was solid and impressive at the same time as he possessed the ability to score big hits in the middle overs.

Axar was also promoted to No. 5 in the final of the T20 World Cup 2024 last year when he scored a match-winning 47 against South Africa. He came under pressure when India were struggling but played a vital hand that proved to be crucial in the end.

Axar Patel helping India with a left-right combination

Further speaking in the same video, Sanjay Manjrekar spoke about India's problem of having too many right-handers in their line-up. He believes that Axar has allowed India to break the cluster of right-handers that was visible during the 2023 ODI World Cup as well.

"Actually, one of the things that I was worried about was the batting line-up with all those right-handers. I thought India would have the same problem they had in the 2023 World Cup, where the first left-hander was (Ravindra) Jadeja," Manjrekar noted.

Manjrekar also expects KL Rahul to score runs whenever he gets a chance to bat. With Axar at No. 5, KL Rahul was pushed down to No. 6 in the batting order. However, Rahul has been a proven performer in the middle order for India and will be expected to raise the bar again.

"But Axar Patel going up the order, it's a damn good sort of idea that they have got working. And KL Rahul, hopefully, when he gets more time in, but that will be his job. If you're batting at number five, in limited over cricket, or five or six, something that comes with that position," he added.

Axar Patel key against Pakistan

Axar was dismissed for just 8 runs in the first match but will be key against Pakistan as they have the legspinner Abrar Ahmed to deal with in the middle overs.

Pakistan also have a left-arm spinner in the form of Khushdil Shah who is likely to bowl in the middle overs. Not only his batting, but his left-arm spin will also be key in this match.