Follow UsIndia all-rounder Axar Patel starred with the ball on Friday (December 1), where his figures of 3 for 16 not only helped India beat Australia by 20 runs in the fourth T20 International (T20I) in Raipur but also helped his side clinch the series with one game to spare.
With this series considered to be the road to the upcoming T20 World Cup, Axar believes that with very few matches between now and the start of the mega event in June next year, Axar believes that the planning for the tournament has to begin right away.
“Our schedule does not have a lot of T20 matches. There are around 9-10 games. You have to start planning and preparing for the T20 World Cup from now. The World Cup is in June, in between, there is the IPL as well. The planning is going on; everyone is aware of their roles,” Axar said at the post-match press conference.
“When Rahul [Dravid] sir and the others come back, more detailed discussions will be held, but we knew what to do in this series. There was no confusion."
Axar also expressed disappointment over missing the ODI World Cup that concluded recently. He was one of India's key players in the squad, but an injury he picked up during the Asia Cup forced him out of the 10-team event, where India finished runners-up.
"Obviously, you are bound to be [disappointed]. The World Cup was in India, but that injury happened. For the first few days, I was thinking about it, not being able to play due to injury. But, the team was doing well, so after 5-10 days, I was back to training and was doing my rehab," Axar said.
"But yes, when you are out due to injury, and those 5-10 days you are not able to do anything, you do feel a bit bad. After that, I returned to routine life.
"I was upset, but it happened due to an injury; it's not in anyone's hands. It's part and parcel of the game."
Speaking of his approach in the series, Axar said he took one game at a time.
"If you are away from international cricket for some time due to injury and then come back, you try to prove yourself and you also have to look after your body, so I also took one match [at a time]," he said.
"When you come from injury, you try to keep that part of the body safe. You are not able to give your full effort. It stays in the back of my mind.
"It doesn't happen in that way because the trainer already tells you that nothing will happen, but while sprinting, you feel what if something happens again to the quadriceps.
"But the first couple of matches, I was back to routine. Now I don't feel anything like that and the work that I put in the last one-and-a-half months, I am reaping the reward now, so I am happy overall."
Axar also lavished praise on his spin partner Ravi Bishnoi, who, also bowled an economical spell, conceding just 17 in his four overs.
"Throughout the series, he has been bowling well. His speed has been troubling the Australians, especially his googly and he has been working on his leg spin," Axar said.
The T20I series reaches its conclusion in Bengaluru on Sunday (December 3), where India take on Australia in the fifth T20I.