Aakash Chopra names Axar Patel as Team India's preferred spin-bowling all-rounder

Former India player Aakash Chopra stated that Axar Patel should be India’s first-choice spin-bowling all-rounder ahead of Ravindra Jadeja for the T20 World Cup 2024. However, Axar registered figures of 2/17 in four overs as Team India restricted Afghanistan to 172 in the second T20I in Indore on Sunday, January 14. The Indian team then chased down the target with six wickets and 26 balls to spare to seal the match and the series before the final game in Bengaluru on Wednesday.

In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Chopra said: “Axar Patel was given the Player of the Match award. I am scared when Axar gets the Player of the Match because he was dropped when he got two successive Player of the Match awards last time. They didn’t take him to South Africa and don’t know what they will do now as well. There is no clarity yet whether Ravindra Jadeja or Axar Patel is your first spinner who can bat at No. 7. It’s Axar Patel in my book. However, because the Indian team made Jaddu the vice-captain in the last series, maybe the team is thinking about Ravindra Jadeja.”

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While talking about Axar Patel bowling an outstanding spell, Chopra added that he shouldn’t have probably been chosen as the Player of the Match for Sunday’s game. He said that Shivam Dube should have won the accolade for the second successive game for his all-round show as well. Aakash Chopra also applauded Rohit Sharma’s captaincy while helping Ravi Bishnoi dismiss Rahmanullah Gurbaz in the third over of Afghanistan’s innings as well.

“Ravi Bishnoi picked up a wicket at the start. Rohit Sharma the captain once again came out shining. He shows his captaincy prowess every time. Ravi Bishnoi was wicketless in the last match as he wasn’t given an over in the powerplay, so he asked him to come early this time, and Rahmanullah Gurbaz got out,” Aakash Chopra concluded. “Bishnoi picked up wickets. Arshdeep took three wickets. He bowled well in the last match as well although he went wicketless. He got two wickets in the last over in this match and two players got run out, and totally three wickets for Arshdeep Singh. Mukesh wasn’t given his full quota.”