Border Gavaskar Trophy: Axar Patel was happy with the way he batted and also said that the Indian bowlers will extract purchase from the surface when they come out to bowl in their second innings.
New Delhi,UPDATED: Feb 10, 2023 17:28 IST
Indian bowlers will get more help from Nagpur pitch as we will be fresh: Axar Patel. Courtesy: AP
By India Today Web Desk: Axar Patel said that he was pretty confident of himself when he came out to bat in India’s opening Test against Australia at the Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA) Stadium in Nagpur. The southpaw came out to bat when the home team already had a lead of 64 runs in the first innings.
From there on, the left-hander looked assured in the middle and got to his second half-century in Tests off 94 balls. He scored 52 runs off 102 balls with the help of eight fours and stayed not out. Axar also put on an unbeaten partnership of 81 runs with Ravindra Jadeja, who stayed not out on 66 after picking up a five-wicket haul.
“I have carried the confidence of last year’s form with the bat,” Axar was quoted as saying after the close of play on the second day.
“The technique has always been good. I just keep reinforcing it whenever I get breaks. Coaches tell me I have the capability, and I do it whenever I get my chance,” he stated.
Axar said that the batters would find it tough coming to bat first on the pitch in Nagpur. But he also said that it gets easier for batters, once they start spending time in the middle.
Axar was also of the opinion that the Indian bowlers would get more help from the surface in Lucknow when they come out to bowl in the second innings.
“It is difficult on this pitch initially, but once you get used to it, it gets very easy. But you have to concentrate hard on this pitch. When we bowl on this wicket, we will be fresh so we should get more help from it,” Axar added.
India had already extended their lead to 144 runs with three wickets in hand in their first innings after finishing Day 2 on 321 for the loss of seven wickets in 114 overs.