In the fourth T20I game of the five-game series in Raipur, Indian all-rounder Axar Patel shone brightly. He won the Player of the Match award against Australia on Friday, boasting amazing stats of 3/16. Sadly, Patel, a left-arm spinner, faced a difficult few months. Why? A quadriceps injury forced him to miss the 2023 World Cup.
Indeed, he is eager to deliver a standout display and assist India in wrapping up the series. Much conversation has surrounded Axar’s surprising non-selection for India’s T20I team for the imminent South Africa tour. Fellow left-arm spinner, Ravindra Jadeja, absent from any T20I since August 2022, has been appointed as vice-captain.
Axar Patel tackles X to share some photos of himself on the job in Raipur. He penned a rather mysterious message, possibly hinting at him not being included in the T20I team for the South Africa trip. Here’s what he shared:
“Move in silence. Only speak when it’s time to say checkmate ????????????????”
Axar Patel
Axar Patel reveals his feelings on being left out of IND vs SA T20Is
While it appeared that Axar Patel intended to make a statement with his performance in Raipur, the all-rounder stated that he was not concerned about his selection for the T20Is against the Proteas.
After the fourth T20I, he informed reporters:
“These things [selection] are not in my hand. It’s not like my name is not there, so I am fired up. It could be the opposite as well. If I had gone for a few, people would have said I was upset. It works both ways. Nothing like that, I was normal. Obviously, Jaddu bhai [Ravindra Jadeja] is coming back, so I was replaced.”
Axar Patel
Axar further added:
“There was nothing of that sort in my mind that I am not in that team, so I have to prove myself. The decision is up to the selectors. I followed what I was doing in the first three matches. I am happy to get among the wickets.”
Axar Patel
It will be intriguing to see what happens to Axar Patel if Ravindra Jadeja excels for India in the T20Is in South Africa.