Axar Patel’s promotion to bat at number five in the ODI series against England has significantly benefited both him and the Indian team. He scored a critical 42 runs in India’s recent 44-run victory over New Zealand, showcasing his improvement as a middle-order batter. Skipper Rohit Sharma praised Axar’s ability to play positively under pressure. India’s middle order, with notable performances from Shreyas Iyer and Hardik Pandya, has been in good form. As they prepare for the Champions Trophy semi-final against Australia, Rohit emphasized the importance of focusing on their game plan while adapting to pitch conditions.
Since Axar Patel has been elevated to the number five batting position in the ODI series against England, it has proven to be advantageous for both him and the Indian team. This strategy paid off once again when he scored a vital 42 off 61 balls in India’s 44-run victory over New Zealand on Sunday. As India prepares to face Australia in the crucial first semi-final of the 2025 Champions Trophy, Indian captain Rohit Sharma remarked that Axar’s development as a batsman makes him a key player in the middle order, which has been a delight to observe.
“That was our goal – we communicated to him clearly at the start of the ODI series against England that he would bat at five, regardless of the circumstances. His improvement with the bat over the past year has been truly impressive to watch. This is where we believed we could utilize his abilities in the middle order, allowing him to play freely, which is exactly what he excels at.”
“He enjoys taking the initiative and playing his shots. When facing difficulty, it’s always preferable to adopt a positive approach. With Axar in the lineup, we can certainly do that. He demonstrated this in the T20 World Cup final with a crucial innings. Once again, in that match, after we lost three wickets, his performance was exceptional and helped us reach a competitive total.”
“That’s what we expect from him – whenever he’s had the chance, he has shown he can exceed our expectations. He has elevated his game in terms of batting, which is always beneficial to have in your squad,” Rohit noted in the pre-final press conference.
Against New Zealand, Axar also formed a crucial partnership of 98 runs with Shreyas Iyer, who continued his good form with a solid 79. Hardik Pandya also contributed with a run-a-ball 45, indicating the middle order’s strong performance in advancing the game during the middle overs.
Rohit expressed that the combination of middle-order runs and spinners taking nine wickets in defense of 250 resulted in a perfect victory over New Zealand. “The middle order is quite experienced regarding the number of matches they’ve played. However, getting some valuable batting time and securing those runs to reach a fighting total was crucial from our perspective.”
“Overall, it was the ideal match we aimed for. We wanted to test all our bowling options, allow the middle order to bat long enough, and set a target. In the first two games, we chased the scores.”
“This time, we aimed to bat first and see how that worked out for us, as understanding the conditions when batting first compared to batting second is essential. I believe this game provided the perfect opportunity for that,” he stated.
Thus far, India has secured victories in all three of its games in Dubai, with Australia next on the schedule—a team they faced in the 2023 ODI World Cup final in Ahmedabad. Given Australia’s strong track record in ICC knockout matches, Rohit mentioned that India would focus on addressing the key areas needed to overcome the Australian challenge in the semi-final.
“It’s an excellent opponent to compete against. We need to replicate what we have been focusing on over the last three games. Our approach should remain consistent. We understand how the opposition operates and their style of play. However, the more we concentrate on what we must do as a group—both as players and as a batting and bowling unit—the more effective we will be.”
“Australia has consistently been a strong team over the years. Thus, we should anticipate some fights back. We can expect tense moments in the middle as well. That’s the nature of the game these days, especially in a semi-final where pressure is high for both teams.”
“It’s vital for us to keep focusing on our tasks, continue performing our roles, and execute them correctly; the results will follow if we do what’s required.”
“In the semi-final, we don’t know which pitch we’ll be playing on. Yes, we may be uncertain about the pitch conditions. Regardless of the scenario, we must adapt and respond to what unfolds during the match,” he concluded.
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