Axar Patel credits IPL experience for his match-winning knock

Team India’s all-rounder Axar Patel credited IPL for his match-winning knock on Sunday against West Indies in Queens Park.

Axar Patel smashed his maiden ODI fifty and helped India to take a 2-0 lead in the three-match ODI series. When Patel arrived at the crease, India were struggling at 205/5 in the 39th over while chasing a huge total of 312. He initially took his time to build the innings by rotating the strike before launching one-off Akeal Hosein for a six. He then raced to his half-century in just 27 deliveries. He didn’t look back since then. The all-rounder played six more deliveries, scored 14 more runs and took India home in the final over.

While he was batting, India ended up losing three more wickets at the other end and was eight down in the end.

Patel collected the player of the match award for his performance. While talking at the post-match presentation, Patel called the knock very special as it helped India to win the series. “It’s very special. It came at a crucial time and also helped the team to win the series,” Patel said.

When Patel came in, India were needing more than 9 runs per over. He had to go for attack right from the start.

When asked about his intent, Patel credited his experience in the IPL.

When I went out, I aimed for 10-11 an over. We thought it could be done because of our IPL experience. We just needed to remain calm and keep the intensity up,” he added.

Patel, who is coming into the ODI set-up after a very long time, said that he wants to continue performing big for the team.

This is my first ODI (series) after nearly five years. I would want to continue performing like this for my team,” he concluded.

The captain of the ODI series Shikhar Dhawan also echoed Axar’s view and credited IPL for his performance. “Our domestic and IPL cricket keep us ready … As Axar said, he’s done it multiple times in IPL,” he said.

Indian bowlers had a bad day in the field as Shai Hope took them for plenty to get to his ton. The West Indies opener made 115 runs and helped the hosts to reach 311 in their 50 overs. India needed something special from the openers to stay in the chase but they got out cheaply. Shikhar Dhawan and Shubman Gill were the stars in the first ODI but this time around, they got out early in the innings. Shreyas Iyer then took the responsibility alongside Sanju Samson to take India closer to the target. The duo shared a 99-run stand before Shreyas Iyer was trapped by Alzarri Joseph. Iyer got to his third consecutive fifty against West Indies in this format. Samson also scored a half-century.

At the end, when the duo got out, India were still needing more than 50 runs and it was Patel’s fireworks, in the end, that got the team through.