If I had half the skills as Ravi Ashwin does, I would do much better: Axar Patel

Axar Patel has formed a good bowling partnership with Ravichandran Ashwin for the Delhi Capitals in the Indian Premier League. Ashwin arrived in the Delhi camp from Punjab Kings (then Kings XI Punjab) in the 2020 season and since then the duo has been quite good together. In this same period, the duo was successful at the international level as well. 

Earlier this year, Patel made his Test debut against England and picked up 27 wickets in just three games. He formed a deadly combination with Ashwin in troubling the Englishmen. This season in the IPL as well, the two spinners have played a huge role in helping Delhi to the playoffs as the number one ranked side on the points table, with 10 wins in 14 matches. 

In a recent interaction, Patel described the abilities of Ashwin and how he differs from him. One of the primary reasons for the duo’s success is the variety they bring as a spin-bowling pair. Ashwin is a right-arm off-spinner while Axar is a left-arm orthodox spinner. The angles and kind of spin of the surface and even their stock delivery are quite different from each other, making them a solid pairing. 

Ash is a man with a different kind of mindset: Axar Patel

“Ash is a man with a different kind of mindset. He is more academic. If I had half the skills as he does, I would do much better. I try to pick how his mind works in different situations. He has different plans for every batter. Bahut hi deep thinking karta hain. (He thinks really deep). I talk to him about how to deal with a batter who is picking me really well. I don’t ask him to teach the variations he has. We talk more about setting the field and mindset,” Patel said to the Times of India. 

Last season, Delhi Capitals had reached the finals of the IPL but ended up getting beaten by Mumbai Indians. Since playing together for Delhi, the pair has picked up 42 wickets in a combined manner with Axar getting 24 while Ashwin getting 18. The pair will be seen in action against Chennai Super Kings in Qualifier 1 on October 10.