One lesson Hardik Pandya would have learned today in the 3rd T20I against the West Indies is that not only Axar Patel is a capable bowler against the left-handers, but he can also dismiss them.
Patel was not given a single over by Hardik in the 2nd T20I vs West Indies in Guyana because West Indies had a left-hander at the crease throughout their innings. But what Pandya perhaps had forgotten then is that Axar is a quality bowler with vast IPL experience of having bowled to left-handers, and that the Guyana pitch was assisting the spinners considerably.
Pandya’s decision to not give Patel a single over in the 2nd T20I was met with plenty of criticism. He rectified his mistake immediately in the 3rd T20I by handing the ball to Axar despite the presence of a left-hander in Kyle Mayers.
Axar duly dismissed Mayers and that was the best reply to skipper Pandya, with the left-arm spinner justifying his credentials as a brilliant spinner. Hardik threw Axar at the tough end today by giving him two overs inside the powerplay itself.
Axar put up a brilliant bowling performance. In his two overs in the powerplay, he conceded only 12 runs, which was simply sensational given the attacking penchant of Mayers and Brandon King.
Right after the powerplay, Axar Patel struck with the wicket of Kyle Mayers. The left-handed West Indies openr looked to slog Axar on the leg-side, but managed a top edge which was caught well by Arshdeep Singh at deep fine leg. Axar Patel finished his bowling with terrific figures of 1/24.
Watch: Axar Patel gives India breakthrough wicket of Kyle Mayers
Axar Patel with the breakthrough, finally!#INDvWIAdFreeonFanCode #WIvIND pic.twitter.com/2pPMMHXzDT
— FanCode (@FanCode) August 8, 2023
Teams:
India (Playing XI): Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya(c), Sanju Samson(w), Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal, Mukesh Kumar
West Indies (Playing XI): Brandon King, Kyle Mayers, Johnson Charles, Nicholas Pooran(w), Rovman Powell(c), Shimron Hetmyer, Romario Shepherd, Roston Chase, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph, Obed McCoy
