If you use the word unsung in a game of scrabble, it will help you to add only seven points to the scoreboard. In the real world, though, the value of that vocable is more than just seven points. And that is the reason why it is the apt term to describe Axar Patel‘s exploits in the world of cricket. His most recent showing against Lucknow Super Giants perfectly illustrates that point.
He opened the bowling with his left-arm spin and kept a lid on the scoring rate, eventually finishing with creditable figures of none for 29 from four overs. Axar then joined forces with KL Rahul to power his side home. Moreover, as the captain of the side, he has ensured that Delhi Capitals are currently competing for the top spot in the league table.
It is true that Axar’s wicket-taking ability has been on the wane this season, having taken a solitary scalp so far. But when one considers his overall contribution – 174 runs at a strike rate of 161.11 and his leadership qualities, it is quite evident that he is a resourceful cricketer.
For a few minutes, let’s transport ourselves back to the just-concluded IPL game between DC and LSG. For starters, Axar had the enviable task of bowling to Mitchell Marsh and Aiden Markram, two batters in form. Yes, the matchup might have suited the spinning all-rounder. But it is never an easy task to bowl in the Powerplay, with just two fielders placed outside the circle. His figures at the completion of the PowerPlay read – 19 runs, three overs. In a nutshell, he was instrumental in not allowing LSG’s openers to turbocharge the engine.
Axar’s job wasn’t over yet. At 105 for 2, he now had the task of guiding the side past the finish line with the bat in hand. Granted, when he took strike, the required run-rate was just over seven an over. However, in this IPL, we have witnessed a couple of teams crumbling under pressure while chasing down targets.
Axar and Rahul, the two warhorses of the side, needed just six more overs to seal the victory. And it was Axar who once more showed leadership qualities of leading from the front by scoring the majority of the runs in that partnership.
During his brief stay at the crease, Axar didn’t just land some meaty blows while facing spin but showcased his prowess against pace too. Just pore through the 15th over to excavate evidence about how Axar has improved his game versus pace: While facing Avesh Khan, he backed away to subsidise width and tonk one over the fielder at mid-off. The kind of stroke that demands a fair amount of skill, alongside hours of practice in the nets.
Axar’s usefulness extends far beyond batting and bowling. Under his leadership, DC have won six matches and lost only two. Only Gujarat Titans are ahead of DC and that too based on thin margins of net run-rate. Axar may not come across as a flashy captain, but he seems to command enough respect from his team. Most of his decisions on the field are also based on simple logic.
A little less than a year ago, India were searching for that elusive ICC trophy. When India slipped to 34 for 3 in the summit clash of the T20 World Cup versus South Africa, Virat Kohli needed an able partner at the other end to shore up the innings. Enter, Axar Patel. He didn’t just compile an innings of 47, but also scored those runs at a good pace to provide the platform for his side to reach a competitive total. In the final analysis, the Jasprit Bumrahs and the Virat Kohlis of the world hogged the limelight for their valuable performances as India clinched its first ICC senior trophy in more than 10 years.
That World Cup final also turns out to be the essence of Axar’s career: The cricketer whose performances seem to go under the radar. But lack of accolades doesn’t seem to bother Axar. All that Axar Patel seems to care about is how to keep it simple and play a pivotal role in his team’s victories.