Axar Patel hailed Suryakumar Yadav’s leadership and called him a “bowler’s captain” after India’s emphatic win over Sri Lanka in the 1st T20I match at the Pallekele Stadium on July 28, Sunday. In his first outing as a full-time T20I captain, India won the match by a good margin of 43 runs. He led the team from the front with his match-winning performance of 58 runs from 26 balls. The Suryakumar-Gambhir era started off on a winning note and India will look to seal the series as they face the host nation in the 2nd T20I on July 29.
“I played in the last Australia series with Surya bhai (as captain). I know that he is a bowlers’ captain. He gives you free hand (in a way) that you decide first,” Axar said at the post-match press conference on Saturday. “Whenever you get hit, he comes and says that it was a good ball. He keeps giving you inputs. As a player, there is a good bond with him.”
Axar hailed Suryakumar for giving that freedom to his bowlers and revealed that he shared a good bond with the T20I captain.
The spin-bowling all-rounder recalled the experience of playing under Suryakumar during the five-match T20I series last year, which India won 4-1.
“As a captain, I have also played with him in the last five matches (against Australia) and when I was playing today, I didn’t feel much change.”
Axar had conceded plenty of runs in his 1st three overs, but the bowler managed to redeem himself in the last over of his spell. When Sri Lanka were cruising in the chase of 214 runs, Axar brought the crucial breakthrough to dismiss Nissanka. In the same over, he sent back Kusal Perera to stage India’s comeback.
The all-rounder revealed that Suryakumar was constantly engaging in conversation with him when he was getting hit for runs. Suryakumar also gave him confidence and backed him to come back stronger.
“In the first three overs when we were going for runs, he was telling me that we can do this or do that and how we can take a wicket. There is no problem if a four or six goes in it. As a bowler, you get confidence from that if the captain is backing you and telling you that you can do this.”
