IPL 2021: “Had confidence and mental strength to pull me through” says Axar Patel who bowled the super over versus Sun Risers Hyderabad
Axar Patel recently opened up about bowling the super over after Sun Risers Hyderabad (SRH), the only super over up until half way mark of the tournament. Axar Patel gave only 7 runs in the super over against David Warner and Kane Williamson.
India and Delhi Capitals (DC) left-arm spinner Axar Patel while talking to India TV gave his side of the story while he bowled a miserly super over against SRH in the suspended Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 on 25th March.
Axar Patel wasn’t part of DC from the first match as he tested positive for COVID-19 before the start of IPL. Axar joined the playing eleven in their fifth match of the season. Excerpts from the interview –
“Because the pitch was aiding spinners, I thought I or Ashwin would be bowling the Super Over. But then I saw the think tank gathered around Avesh Khan. When I asked (Steve) Smith, he told me that Avesh will bowl the Super Over.
“I was confident that I could do better than Avesh under the conditions. I then went up to Rishabh (Pant) and said that I can bowl the Super Over without conceding many runs. Pant consulted coach Ricky (Ponting), and he gave the captain the freedom to take the final call,” Patel told.
Patel said he had the confidence for the pressure situation. Axar Patel gave only 7 runs in the super over against David Warner and Kane Williamson.
“I knew I could either become a hero or a zero. For a few moments, my heartbeat did increase. But I had the confidence and mental strength to pull me through,” he said.
Patel on how he dealt with COVID. “Many thoughts were going through my mind. I was in good form and then suddenly this COVID thing happened. I was also worried if COVID would affect my rhythm and how my body would respond after the battle with the virus,” said Patel.
Patel stated that in his first match of the season itself he was put to test.
“In the first match itself, my COVID recovery was put to test, as I bowled the Super Over against Sunrisers Hyderabad. After that, I became more confident as my rhythm was intact,” he concluded.
Axar Patel has been named in the Indian squad who will play against New Zealand in the inaugural ICC World Test Championship final (18 June) and later versus England in the five-Test series during the month of August-September.
