Axar Patel Hails Suryakumar Yadav as the Ultimate Bowler’s Captain

All-rounder Axar Patel of India claims that new T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav is a captain who gives bowlers the flexibility to carry out their strategies.

In the current series against Sri Lanka, the team intends to maximize its batting combinations, according to the spin all-rounder.

In a thrilling opening T20 International, Suryakumar and India defeated hosts Sri Lanka by 43 runs, securing a winning start to the three-match series here on Saturday.

“I played in the last Australia series with Surya bhai as captain. I know that he is a bowlers’ captain. He gives you free hand in a way that you decide first,” Axar said at the post-match press conference on Saturday.

“Whenever you get hit, he comes and says that it was a good ball. He keeps giving you inputs. As a player, there is a good bond with him.”

Recalling his time under Suryakumar, Axar talked about the five-match T20I series that India won 4-1 against Australia in the latter part of the previous year.

“As a captain, I have also played with him in the last five matches against Australia and when I was playing today, I didn’t feel much change,” he said.

“In the first three overs when we were going for runs, he was telling me that we can do this or do that and how we can take a wicket. There is no problem if a four or six goes in it. As a bowler, you get confidence from that if the captain is backing you and telling you that you can do this.”

According to Axar, India’s batting lineup for the first T20 International, which did not include Rishabh Pant at the top, was chosen to maximize the team’s left and right-hand possibilities.

Pant batted at No. 3 in the previous assignment, the T20 World Cup, which India won. On Saturday, however, captain Suryakumar took the coveted place and the wicketkeeper-batter dropped down to No. 4.

“Our team has four lefties and four righties. If there is a left-right combination in the middle, it becomes very hard for the bowlers to maintain the line and lengths consistently especially with rotations with singles.”

“Now if there are four lefties, how can you use them? If you have that chance to ensure that there are no two lefties or two righties in the middle at the same time.”

“If you have that chance, if you have those players in batting, then why not use them? You also have to keep changing the batting order as per the bowling options that the opposition has got,” he added.

According to the spinner, India’s new coaching staff, led by head coach Gautam Gambhir, has made it clear that the team won’t be drastically changing how it functionse.

Abhishek Nayar, Sairaj Bahutule, and Dutchman Ryan ten Doeschate have joined Gambhir’s support team for this tour of Sri Lanka, while fielding coach T Dilip has remained in his position. Roles will be finalized after the tour concludes.

“I have been playing for 10 years. I have played with different coaches and captains. I don’t think a lot will change in the team,” he said.

“When we were talking in the team meeting, they also said the same thing that the coach and captain keep changing but the team remains the same and the 11 or 15 players who stay, they have to do it,” he said.

“They have told us that we will play the way we have been playing. Obviously, the coach and his input can be different. The thinking can be different, they keep telling you here and there. But there is not much change in the team’s atmosphere,” he added.

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