Spin all-rounder Axar Patel has impressed one and all with his clever batting against Australia on the second day of the second Test on a spin friendly pitch at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi on Saturday.
Axar was the highest scorer among Indian batters as he scored 74 runs from 115 balls with the help of nine fours and three sixes. While India’s top order batsmen struggled against Australia’s spin troika on a pitch offering help to the tweakers, Axar played some aggressive strokes by coming down the track and rotated strikes regularly with his partner Ravichandran Ashwin to unsettle the spinners of the visitors.
Riding on Axar’s brilliant batting effort, India scored 262 runs in their first innings that is just one run short of Australia. For Axar’s clever batting he earned applauds from none other than legendary batsman Sunil Gavaskar.
As per the Little Master, Axar played positively and batted in a clever manner.
“Axar has been very positive, understanding that the left-arm spinner’s ball is turning against him, so if he connects it’s going for a six. It was clever batting from the all-rounder. He always looked for runs and rotated strikes well,” said Gavaskar.
As per the former India captain, it is important for India to reduce the lead in the second innings.
“India have to bat in the fourth innings and it will be difficult for them to bat against spin. Hence, the Indian bowlers must strive to skittle out the Australians as soon as possible. Then they have a chance to win the match,” Gavaskar added.