Axar Patel Explains Why Team India Do Not Solely Depend On Virat Kohli

In a recent interview, Axar Patel said, "the way these players have been in a rich vein of form lately, I don’t think Virat would be having the pressure alone."

Image: PTI

Mumbai: India's premier left-arm spinner and the one who holds the record for most wickets in a debut Test series, Axar Patel has said that team India does not depend on one or two players in batting. This new team India has proven their metal over and over again. Axar Patel did his Test debut recently against England. He picked four 5-wicket hauls in the series. 

In a recent interview with India TV, Patel said, “If you see this Indian cricket team, there is Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ajnkya Rahane, and we have Rishabh Pant. The way these players have been in a rich vein of form lately, I don’t think Virat would be having the pressure alone."

He mentioned how the team won in Australia without Virat and other key players. These are signs that India has evolved as a team that depended on some stars to now, where even a number eight can bat very well. 

“Our team had won the Test series in Australia when Virat wasn’t there. During the England series, Kohli got out early in a few innings but then Pant and Washington Sundar came up and performed. Rohit scored a couple of centuries as well. The spinners have also started batting down the order,” Axar told India TV.

“You see how Shardul Thakur and Sundar made a partnership in Australia. And when you bat in England, you don’t chase big totals like 400 or 50. The total is around 300 or 250. So, that’s where the lower-order partnerships are important,” he added. 

The 27-year-old had earlier joined the Delhi Capitals in Mumbai on March 28. He entered the bio-bubble with a negative report, but on April 3, he tested positive for Corona virus. He showed mild symptoms after which he was sent to the Medical Faculty of the Indian Cricket Board.