IND vs BAN: "Axar Patel Is The Ideal Kind Of Bowler That You Want When The Pitch Gets Slower"

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India beat Bangladesh by 188 runs in the first Test of the two-match series at the Zahur Ahmed Chaudhary Stadium in Chattogram on Sunday, December 18. Bangladesh were bowled out for 324 runs in reply to a massive 513-run target set by India. Former Indian cricketer Akash Chopra was impressed by Axar Patel’s performance on the fourth day of the first Test.

The left-arm spinner was the most productive among the three Indian spinners, picking up three wickets on day four by dismissing Yasir Ali, Mushfiqur Rahim, and Nurul Hasan. Axar finished the match with four wickets in the second innings, while Kuldeep Yadav took three. Mohammed Siraj, Umesh Yadav, and Ravichadran Ashwin took one wicket each.

Axar’s Optimum Pace Is Just Right To Extract Something – Aakash Chopra

In a video on his YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra stated that Axar Patel is the ideal bowler for when the pitch gets slower. Chopra believes that spinners like Axar, who are quicker through the air, have the best opportunity of making an impact.

“Axar Patel is the ideal kind of bowler that you want when the pitch gets slower. This is because while spinners like Kuldeep and Ashwin, who are slower through the air, become even slower, Axar’s optimum pace is just right to extract something off the slow pitch and that’s why he picked up three wickets.”

He Was Perhaps Unlucky To Not Have 2-3 Wickets – Aakash Chopra

The former Indian opener also praised other Indian bowlers for providing Axar with the required support. Chopra described Umesh Yadav as “brilliant with the ball” and said he was unlucky not to have 2-3 wickets already to his name.

“Umesh Yadav was also brilliant with the ball. He was perhaps unlucky to not have 2-3 wickets already to his name as did trouble the batters. If you win the game despite Ashwin not taking the bulk of wickets, you’ve done really well as a bowling unit.”

Umesh Yadav took 1/27 in 15 overs for Bangladesh in the second innings and broke Najmul Hossain Shanto and Zakir Hasan’s 124-run first-wicket stand. Umesh looked lethal with the second new ball, giving stiff competition to Mushfiqur Rahim.

Also read: IND vs BAN: “Umesh Yadav Is Extremely Underrated, He Does The Job For His Captain Quietly And Those Numbers Are Very Impressive” – Ajit Agarkar