He bowls slow left-arm, bats left-handed and is often compared with Ravindra Jadeja. Axar Patel earned the India cap after the 2014 IPL but couldn’t hold on to the spot. The 22-year-old once again knocked the selectors’ door after pulling off the first hat-trick of the ongoing season — the 14th overall.
Against Gujarat Lions, the Kings XI Punjab youngster dismissed Dinesh Karthik, Dwayne Bravo and Jadeja in consecutive deliveries and finished with figures of 4/21.
“Every hat-trick is special and it is also my first. My hat-trick changed the momentum, the team was losing before. We won two out of the last three matches and have a good chance to catch up with others on the points table,” said Axar. He is hopeful of an India comeback but prefers to live in the present.
“I am happy I am able to contribute with both bat and ball. The team look balanced now but I am taking it match by match. I know there is a chance of a national call-up owing to my recent performances. IPL is the gateway to the Indian team but not thinking too much about the other side now,” he added.
However, the comparison with Jadeja isn’t troublesome for the lad.
“We both knew we would be compared but there is no change in our chemistry due to that. We are both Gujaratis, good friends. But I only focus on my performances, I never evaluate or think what Jaddu is doing; I never sit back to judge how his performances are. I never try to emulate or up my game looking at him,” he made himself clear.
India cricketer Murali Vijay took over the captaincy mantle from David Miller in the middle of the tournament and since then, Kings XI looked more settled.
“David was also a good skipper but he hadn’t captained in club cricket before. An Indian player knows the conditions best and how to set the field according to the situation. David probably didn’t have the required idea and his batting also suffered. After Vijay took over, there is no pressure on him as a batsman,” added Axar, who isn’t scared to bowl to any batsman in their prime.
