I am bowling quite well and want to concentrate on it feels Axar Patel

The Indian team is getting ready to take the field against the visiting Kiwi side in a limited overs series, consisting of 3 ODIs and 3 T20s. It is also an opportunity for the hosts to get back the No 1 spot in the ICC ODI rankings, which is currently reclaimed by the Proteas. It is a major opportunity for young left-arm spinner Axar Patel as well to cement his spot in the national side in absence of Ravindra Jadeja in the limited overs format. However, Axar still has a tough competition in leg-spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal, who are currently performing very well.

There is also uncertainty about Axar’s role in the side as he played only 2 games in the ODI series against Australia. But as seen in the past, he has always been looked as an off-spinner who can also bat a bit, which gives him the edge when compared to Kuldeep and Chahal. Patel has always been a consistent performer and a wicket-taking bowler when given the big opportunity to take wickets in the middle-overs.

I am quite happy with my bowling performances

Axar Patel is currently No 8 in the ICC ODI bowler rankings and has performed very well in Sri Lanka and the two ODIs against Australia recently. “I was quite happy with the way I bowled in that match. I had got hit for a few runs in the previous match, so it really felt nice to come back into form. And I particularly enjoyed the wicket of Travis Head; he was trying to hit me and was bowled. My best ODI figures – three for 34 — came in the first match of the series at Dambulla and that was an important match for me,” he said as quoted by Sportstar.

The left-arm off spinner also talked about the intense competition in the Indian team which he thinks is good for Indian cricket. “Yes, there is some competition. But that is good for Indian cricket,” he added.

After recovery from injury, it was difficult for me

The Gujrat player was not part of the Indian team in the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 and the Caribbean tour, but made a comeback in the tour to Sri Lanka after some incredible performances for the India A side. “I was coming back to the side some eight months after my injury. Well, I will love Wayanad always because of that spell. It remains my favourite spell in international cricket,” said the Gujrati boy about his performance for the India A team in the tour to South Africa.