5 reasons why Axar Patel doesn't belong in the 'big league'

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When a young Axar Patel made his debut for India, he was being hailed as the next big thing in cricket, but he hasn’t quite lived up to that hype yet. Axar has recently had four chances to prove himself in the ongoing India versus New Zealand series but each time he has come up with mediocre performances.

For example on Wednesday, the all-rounder had a chance of winning his side the contest, but he failed to rise to the occasion. India were in big trouble when he came into bat, and the hosts needed a whirlwind knock from the youngster to help turn the tide.

He started off well by clubbing a few to the ropes and sending one into the stands but just when it looked like it was a day for the left-handed batsman to shine he was cleaned up by a fast Yorker from Trent Boult.

The delivery was quick but not well directed and should have been whipped to the legside boundary, but then maybe it was too fast for Axar as it rattled the stumps after thudding off the pad. India eventually fell short by 19 runs and it was also a night to not fondly remember for the all-rounder event though he notched his highest ODI score of 38.

With the ball too he hasn’t had the best of outings as he has claimed just two wickets in the series so far to the giving away 177 runs.  

In this article, we see why Axar Patel does not belong to the big league.

1# Lack of bowling variety

Axar hasn’t added much to his arsenal after making his debut 

He made his debut two years back against Bangladesh in Dhaka, from then till now Axar has not changed much regarding his bowling. He is still unable to bowl the one which comes back to the right-hander and has only developed the faster delivery.

Just before the beginning of the IPL 2016 Axar had said, “You expect top batsmen to read you well after two-three seasons at this level and that is why I felt the need to add more variety to my bowling. I am tossing up the oddball in training, but it doesn’t mean I will only do that. I will continue bowling the flatters ones and try to mix it with the odd flighted ball.”

But only seldom do you see him flighting the ball and mixing it up. He is often short which gives batsmen ample time to rock back and smash him to the ropes. The lack of wicket taking deliveries is quite prominent as he has only picked up two New Zealand batsman in the ongoing series.

“ He just rolls the ball; he does not have the flight and his deliveries are very much predictable. He does not turn the ball unless the pitch is favourable. He is slightly slower than medium pace,” Gavaskar had once said about Axar.