Axar Patel’s promotion to the number five batting position in the ODI series against England has proven to be a boon for both the player and the Indian cricket team. This strategic move was once again highlighted by Patel’s crucial innings of 42 runs off 61 balls in India’s recent victory against New Zealand.
As India gears up to face Australia in the highly anticipated semi-final of the 2025 Champions Trophy, Indian captain Rohit Sharma commended Axar’s batting progress. Sharma noted that Axar’s development as a batter has been remarkable, establishing him as a crucial component of the team’s middle order and a pleasure to watch.
“We aimed for him to bat at number 5, and communicated this clearly at the start of the ODI series against England, irrespective of the match situation. His batting improvement over the past year is truly impressive. We recognized his potential to contribute effectively in the middle order, allowing him to bat with freedom, which aligns perfectly with his approach,” Rohit explained.
He further added, “Axar enjoys taking on the game and playing his shots. Even in challenging situations, he maintains a positive approach. We are confident in his ability to do this. His crucial knock in the T20 World Cup final, where he came in when we were three wickets down and helped us reach a competitive total, is a testament to his capabilities.”
“Whenever given an opportunity, Axar has consistently exceeded expectations with his batting. He has significantly elevated his game in this aspect. It’s always beneficial to have players like him in the squad,” Rohit stated during the pre-final press conference.
In the match against New Zealand, Axar also formed a vital 98-run partnership with Shreyas Iyer, who continued his impressive form with a score of 79. Hardik Pandya’s contribution of 45 runs further solidified India’s middle order, demonstrating their ability to accelerate the game during the middle overs.
Rohit mentioned that the middle order’s run-scoring and the spinners’ nine-wicket haul in defending a score of 250 contributed to a comprehensive victory against New Zealand. “The middle order possesses considerable experience. The opportunity for them to spend time at the crease, score runs, and achieve a fighting total was crucial from our perspective.”
“Overall, it was the ideal game we were looking for. We wanted to test our bowling options, ensure the middle order had sufficient batting time, and practice setting a target, especially after chasing in the initial two games,” he elaborated.
“This time, we chose to bat first to assess the conditions and understand the differences between batting first and second. This game served as the perfect test in that regard,” he concluded.
India has maintained a perfect winning record in Dubai, and their next challenge is against Australia, the team that defeated them in the 2023 ODI World Cup final in Ahmedabad. Acknowledging Australia’s strong performance in ICC knockouts, Rohit emphasized that India will concentrate on executing their strategies to overcome the Australian challenge in the semi-final in Dubai.
“Australia is a formidable opponent. Our focus remains on replicating what we have done in the previous three games. We will approach this game with a similar mindset. We are aware of their strengths and strategies, but prioritizing our team’s performance, both in batting and bowling, will be key to our success.”
“Australia has been a dominant team for years, so we anticipate strong comebacks and moments of pressure. However, such is the nature of semi-final matches; pressure will be on both sides. It’s vital for us to maintain our focus, execute our plans effectively, and the desired outcome will follow,” he added.
“Regarding the semi-final pitch, we are uncertain about the surface. Regardless, we must adapt to the conditions,” he concluded.
