Indian batting coach Sitanshu Kotak shared that Suryakumar Yadav and Gautam Gambhir spoke with Axar Patel before the Super Eight match against South Africa. He stated that the all-rounder’s confidence would remain intact despite being left out of the playing XI, with Washington Sundar taking his place.
Axar was also not part of India’s final group-stage game against the Netherlands at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. This decision was made based on the team structure, as management opted for an off-spinner to target left-handed batters.
“Both Surya[kumar Yadav] and Gautam [Gambhir] had discussions with him. We decided that an off-spinner was essential because there were three left-handers at the top. We got early wickets. Washington didn’t bowl in the Powerplay,” Kotak said, as reported by Cricbuzz.
“He was supposed to bowl, and that situation can change during a match. This combination was chosen for that reason. Regarding confidence, Axar is a seasoned player; he has performed at high levels and does not lack confidence. Our head coach and captain communicated their thoughts clearly,” he added.
Kotak acknowledged that the team might need to rethink the opening combination, with Sanju Samson potentially in the mix. Although Ishan Kishan has performed decently, scoring 176 runs in five matches, Abhishek Sharma has faced challenges in the tournament, including three ducks.
“If we feel Sanju’s recent innings were not confident and Ishan was scoring runs, we would naturally choose Ishan. Now, we must consider if we need to make any changes or stick with the current arrangement. It’s something we need to discuss, including what to change if necessary,” Kotak explained.
After one loss in the Super Eight, India is under pressure to secure wins in their upcoming two matches. However, Kotak emphasized that the players are experienced in handling high-pressure situations and are determined to perform well.
India is set to face Zimbabwe and West Indies in their remaining Super Eight matches. Aside from winning, the team must significantly enhance their Net Run Rate, which could be crucial for qualification to the next stage.
“Playing in India naturally creates pressure. Any professional, be it batsman or bowler, feels it. Batsmen face more pressure in a one-ball scenario, whereas bowlers have more room for error. There will definitely be pressure, but we have two matches left. We know our position. We had one bad day, but we must move forward and aim to win both matches,” Kotak added.
