After dc

Axar Patel: Wednesday’s match against Gujarat Titans was just the third time Axar Patel batted at number three in T20 cricket, something which no one saw it coming. On his part, Axar made his promotion to number three count by hitting five fours and four sixes in his eye-catchy knock of 66 off 43 balls. It was also his highest IPL score, coming at a strike-rate of 153.49.

Axar, who was exquisite in his slog-sweeps and smash through covers against spinners, was also a handy partner in the match-winning 113-run stand with Rishabh Pant for the fourth wicket. Such was the effect of Axar and Pant nullifying GT spinners that left-arm spinner R. Sai Kishore couldn’t bowl until the 19th over came, due to the match-up of him against two left-handed batters.

After DC prevailed over GT by four runs in a thrilling run-fest, assistant coach Pravin Amre said the decision to promote Axar, who took three catches and returned with figures of 1-28, was done mainly to counter Kishore in the power-play.