Axar Patel has earned a reputation as one of the most dependable performers in Indian cricket across all formats. However, his unfortunate tendency to sustain injuries at crucial junctures has somewhat overshadowed his contributions. Despite these setbacks, Axar has developed a resilient mindset.
“If you look at my World Cup record or any major series, it always seems like an injury strikes me at the most inopportune time, forcing me to the sidelines. I’ve decided not to dwell on these things for the time being,” Axar said with a wry smile.
A quadricep injury during the Asia Cup in September forced Axar to withdraw from India’s squad for the 2023 ODI World Cup. Understandably, he is not looking too far ahead, even with another World Cup, this time in the T20 format, just around the corner.
“It’s undoubtedly challenging to deal with injuries at inconvenient times, but I’ve become accustomed to it over the past few years. I’m content in my own world and on my terms.”
Axar is adamant about avoiding self-imposed pressure in the run-up to the World Cup, preferring instead to stay grounded and focus on immediate performance improvements.
Despite batting-friendly conditions and regulations, Axar has excelled at containing batsmen. Along with Jasprit Bumrah, he is the only bowler to have bowled at least 10 overs this IPL season while maintaining an economy rate below seven runs per over.
“When you recognize that the batters will be aggressively targeting you from both ends, your mindset becomes crucial. If you’re preoccupied with the prospect of being hit, you’ll lose focus and concede runs,” Axar explained.
“My focus is solely on executing my game plan. Even if the batter manages to hit it out of the park after I’ve delivered it exactly where I intended, I’m at peace with it.”
