Team India T20I vice-captain Axar Patel shared insights into the national team’s approach ahead of the five-match T20I series against England at home. Axar Patel said only the openers have fixed positions and the rest of the batting order, which consists of “multiple floaters”, must remain flexible.
Before the Champions Trophy, India are scheduled to host England for a five-match T20I series followed by three ODIs. Suryakumar Yadav will lead the Indian T20 side and Axar Patel will be the vice-captain. The T20I series will begin on January 22 and the series opener will be held at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata.
Team India remains unbeaten in the T20I series since winning the T20 World Cup 2024.
The Men in Blue T20I squad is considered a more composed unit compared to their ODI and Test squads. After winning the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 against South Africa last year, they remained unbeaten in the T20I series. The team is a combination of youth and experience, with excellent results so far.
Although the upcoming T20I series against England is of no immediate importance, it will be crucial for India to test the strength of their bench and start forming the core for the T20 World Cup 2026. India will need their batsmen to be in top form, attacking from the start to dominate England in series.
The middle order will come to the fore, depending on the situation in the match – Axar Patel
In a press conference held on Monday, Axar Patel was asked about whether the player in the order is a batsman. Patel explained that while the openers have fixed positions, the rest of the batting order, from No.3 to No.7, is flexible, with players assigned roles based on the situation, team combinations and matchups.
“In terms of batting, it’s not just me, we talked in the 2023-24 season itself that the openers are fixed, but everyone from No.3 to No.7 has been told they can come into the game at any time, in any situation. It’s not just one batsman will bat at a particular position,” Axar told reporters on Monday.
“Our middle order will come to bat depending on the match situation, what kind of bowlers are bowling at that time, what matchup is working well.”
“We talked about how we can all be flouters, whether we’re coming in early or obviously finishing. This is not just for me, but for everyone from No. 3 and below, especially if they’re in good contact the nets will adjust accordingly , the way you use your shots is an important factor.”
India have effectively used Axar Patel as a float in recent years
In recent years, India have used Axar Patel effectively as a floater, following his significant improvements with the bat. He averaged 21.26 with a strike rate of 131.25 in T20s until 2022, but has since raised his average to 30.32 with a strike rate of 145.62 from 2023 onwards.
His versatility allowed him to bat in various positions, scoring six half-centuries for India, Delhi Capitals and Gujarat. India also experimented with other players like Hardik Pandya, Tilak Varma, Nitish Reddy, Washington Sundar and Rinku Singh in floating roles.
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