Courtesy: BCCI
All-rounder Axar Patel was recently named as the new vice-captain of the Indian T20I team for the upcoming five-match series at home against England, starting on Wednesday, January 22, at the Eden Gardens. During his latest interview, when the 31-year-old was asked about receiving added responsibility in the Indian cricket team, he looked forward to working with captain Suryakumar Yadav apart from stating that trust between teammates will make things easier for him and everyone else.
Notably, in the past year or so, Axar Patel has taken his all-round game to the next level, especially in the T20I format in the Indian colours. During the T20 World Cup 2024, which India won in a close final against South Africa in Barbados in June, the left-handed batter made some significant contributions with the bat while being promoted up the other, while picking up a few key wickets of the opposition batters as well.
Axar Patel sounded quite upbeat and ready to assume responsiblity of India's T20I vice-captain
In a report published in Cricbuzz, Axar Patel talked about the transition in the Indian cricket team with the senior players starting to move on. He was quoted as saying, “Yes, the transition is coming and obviously, it will be the call of the selectors and the captain. At the end of the day, I don't want to prove anything to anyone. I have played in all three formats. Whether it is T20, ODI or Test matches. So, I tell myself that I have to do well in the opportunities I get.”
"If there is a transition and if I am given a role, I will focus on that, on what I have to do. I keep asking myself how to make myself better when I am batting or bowling, and if I keep performing I will automatically make my place, he added. Axar Patel was also questioned about taking the vice-captain role in the Indian cricket team, to which he sounded quite upbeat and ready, a good sign for the team management.
He said the following about the vice-captaincy role of India in T20I cricket, “Obviously, it's been a day, so we have discussed that there is an extra responsibility on me in the leadership group. Our T20 team is settled, so there is not much pressure. But obviously, there are small decisions in the game. I will be working with Surya, so if some input is needed at any time around what we can do and what we can't, that's the kind of conversation I have had. And when you come into the leadership group, obviously, you have to make some harsh decisions. If we have genuine opinions and trust in each other, it will be easy.”
