T20 series: Birthday boy Axar Patel ready for added responsibility

The choice of Axar Patel in place of Hardik Pandya as vice-captain for the T20 series against England may have raised a few eyebrows, but the spinner allrounder had been an unsung hero of sorts in Indian cricket. While Axar is ready for the ‘added responsibility’ of being part of the leadership group, the Gujarat man says he has nothing more to prove to anybody.

‘’There is not much of a change as we have a settled T20 side, hence there is not much pressure. However, there are some small decisions to be taken like what we have to work on the game — I have discussed it with Surya (skipper Suryakumar Yadav) and what inputs are needed. In a leadership group, you also have to be ready to take some harsh decisions,’’ said the easygoing Axar, who turned 31 on Monday.

It was India’s second day at the nets at Eden Gardens ahead of the series opener on Wednesday, which saw an addition to their support staff in Sitangshu Kotak as the batting coach. A stalwart in the domestic scene during his playing days with Saurashtra, Kotak had been a long serving coach at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) and India A and added to the team following a review meeting of the board after their 3-1 drubbing in Australia.

The review meeting in Mumbai, which masterminded the much talked about 10-point Code of Conduct — also harped on the addition of a batting coach to their staff for the white ball series. The addition of Kotak puts a question mark on the role of Abhishek Nayar as one of the assistant coaches, though it remains to be seen if Kotak becomes a permanent fixture following the T20 series.

As the Indian team went about their nets session on a lazy afternoon, there was a hint of worry about the fitness of Mohammed Shami again. The senior paceman, back in the national squad after last playing in the 2023 World Cup final, was seen bowling with a heavily strapped right knee on Sunday, while he did not have a bowl at all on Monday. It's quite possible that the team management wants him to ease into the workload of international cricket.

Asked what Shami’s return means for the team, the new T20 vice-captain was effusive: ‘’His (Shami’s) return is a very positive thing for the team. The last time he played was in the ODI World Cup final and since his recovery, he has performed well in both the Syed Mushtaq Ali and Vijay Hazare tournaments.

‘’Whenever a senior player makes a comeback, it gives a big boost to the team. We all know what Shami bhai brings to the table — whether it’s with the new ball or in the death overs. His presence, especially with the new ball, is a huge advantage for the team. Hopefully, he continues the same form he showcased in the World Cup,’’ Axar noted.

For all the criticism that Indian cricket had been copping in recent times, the T20 team had been at their consistent form though since the World T20 triumph — the last one saw them coasting to a 4-1 triumph over South Africa in an away series. Asked what target were they setting themselves up for in the upcoming five-match series, Axar said they would like to get as any matches as possible under their belt and also experiment with the next T20 World Cup in mind.  

‘’Obviously, the target is to do well and how many matches we can get in under the belt. It’s about trying as much as possible before the World Cup in one year’s time. It’s about how to approach the way we play, the target is about trying whatever we want to do from now onwards. Yes, momentum obviously plays a big role, so it’s about getting a good start and carrying it forward,’’ Axar added.

As someone who had been in and out of the national sides, can he hope for some stability – now with the T20 vice-captaincy and a transitional phase on? ‘’ I just keep telling myself that I have played all three formats - be it in Tests, ODIs or T20s. My focus is simply on doing well whenever I get an opportunity, rather than feeling the need to prove anything to anyone, whether I’m picked or not,’’ Axar added.