In New Delhi, left-arm spinner Axar Patel is setting his sights on a place in the T20 World Cup team. His ambitions are fueled by his recent exclusion from the ODI World Cup due to injury and his determination to excel in the upcoming IPL 2024. Patel demonstrated his skill in a T20I match against Afghanistan, taking two wickets and giving up only 23 runs in four overs.
During a post-match press conference, Patel emphasized his focus on hard work and process, rather than worrying about World Cup team selection. He believes that overthinking about the selection could add unnecessary pressure on him. His current focus is on the IPL, where he hopes a strong performance will enhance his chances for a spot in the T20 World Cup squad, which is scheduled for June.
With only two more T20Is before the World Cup, Patel is aware of the stiff competition for a place in the national team. He acknowledges the challenge but maintains that his real competition is with himself, aiming to improve his skills. He shared his experience of working on his game during his recovery at the National Cricket Academy (NCA), focusing on aspects like line, length, and bowling variations.
Patel, 29, expressed satisfaction with the progress he made, which was evident in the series against Australia and the T20I against Afghanistan. He aims to continue applying pressure on batsmen with his varied deliveries. As the IPL approaches, both fans and selectors are eager to see if Patel's performances will secure him a place in India's T20 World Cup squad.
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