IND vs AFG 2024: “I have the confidence to bowl at all times” – Axar Patel after match-winning performance

Indian spinner Axar Patel said he is confident to bowl at all times after his match-winning performance in the second T20I against Afghanistan at the Holkar Cricket Stadium, Indore on Sunday. Patel returned with impressive figures of 2-17 in his quota of four overs to restrict Afghanistan to a below-par score of 172 runs.

Patel accounted for Afghanistan skipper Ibrahim Zadran and top-scorer Gulbadin Naib. The left-arm orthodox spinner bowled Zadran and had Naib caught by skipper Rohit Sharma.

Patel once again backed his strength of bowling straight at the stumps and didn’t give any freedom to Afghanistan batters to free their arms. The 29-year-old from Gujarat had also registered impressive figures of 2-23 in the opening T20I of the series.

Axar Patel was awarded the Player of the Match for his fine bowling show. Patel also completed 200 T20 wickets in his career after bagging two wickets against Afghanistan.

He said in the post-match presentation, “Feels good, I just realized that I have got 200 T20 wickets. But what is important to keep doing well for India, honestly a few years later I won’t remember how many wickets I took. I have been trying to bowl a bit slower, vary my lengths and now I have been to gauge these things better.”

He added, “Now I have the confidence to bowl at all times, even in the powerplay. You need to be mentally prepared as a bowler in T20 cricket. Ready to concede a six because that same ball could get you a wicket on another day. Earlier, I used to vary my plans if a batter was hitting me, but now I stick to my plans and make the batters take the chance against me.”

Patel will look to continue the good show in the final game of the series. The third and last T20I of the series between India and Afghanistan will be played at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru on Wednesday.