Former India cricket team head coach Ravi Shastri reckons that Axar Patel will have to return to the playing XI for the Super 8 tie against Zimbabwe. The Men in Blue’s chances of make it to the semis without any hiccups suffered a blow as they were handed a 76-run defeat by South Africa. Shastri opined that India needed to go with an extra spin option in the form of Axar, along with Sundar and Chakravarthy.
‘You need that experience’
Speaking to ICC, Shastri said that India need the experience of Axar, adding that it would be of good use for India to have an extra spin option. The former Indian coach said that with Axar’s addition, India’s batting depth goes as deep as number 8. However, Shastri warned that something is very wrong with the team if 8 batters can’t do the job, noting that they had the firepower to tear apart any opposition.
“I would say play both (Patel and Sundar). Give yourself that extra option. Because on a given day, you’re bound to have one bowler who’s going to have an off day. Like for example, Varun Chakravarthy on Sunday. He was not at his best and he paid the price for it. Now, if eight batters can’t do the job in T20 cricket, then something’s wrong, especially with that kind of firepower,” Shastri said.
Following the loss against South Africa, India assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate defended the decision to pick Sundar over Axar, noting that the former was willing to bowl in the powerplay and that he was used to counter the left-handed batters. However, the Tamil Nadu all-rounder bowled just 2 overs in which he conceded 17 runs. With the bat, he played a sluggish 11-run knock of as many deliveries.
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