Axar Patel's T20I Batting Position Under Scrutiny

Indian cricketer Axar Patel's batting position in T20I cricket has been a subject of debate, with former opener Aakash Chopra suggesting that he should bat higher in the order to utilize his responsible batting skills.

Axar Patel has predominantly batted at No. 7 or No. 8 in T20I cricket, where he has scored 306 runs at an average of 21.85 and a strike rate of 150. However, Chopra believes that Patel's batting potential is being underutilized and that he should be promoted to a higher batting position. Patel has batted as high as No. 3 or No. 4 in the past, including in the World Cup final, and Chopra thinks that he should not be restricted to lower-order batting positions.

The Indian team has a strong lineup of all-rounders, but Chopra feels that they are being under-utilized, with some players being overlooked for bowling opportunities or batting positions. Chopra pointed out that Axar's recent performance in the T20I match against England, where he batted at No.8 and got bowled out quickly, sparked questions about his batting position and shot selection. Chopra suggests that Axar should be given more responsibility with the bat and allowed to bat higher up the order.

Aakash Chopra also emphasized the need for a more strategic approach to role assignment, as the surplus of all-rounders often leads to underutilization of key players. He noted that India's all-rounders should be utilized more effectively, with Axar Patel being capable of batting higher up the order. With India currently leading the series 2-0 against England, the team management will be looking to make the most of their resources in the upcoming matches.

The third T20I is scheduled to be played in Rajkot on January 28, and it will be interesting to see if the Indian team management takes Aakash Chopra's suggestions into consideration and gives Axar Patel a more prominent role with the bat.