"My coach said there is something wrong with my biomechanics" - Axar Patel on how he went from being a fast bowler to spinner
Team India's spin bowling all-rounder Axar Patel has revealed that he was once a fast bowler. His U-16 coach, however, felt that there was something wrong with my biomechanics and asked him to switch to spin bowling.
Axar was one of the unsung heroes of India's 2024 T20 World Cup campaign. He bowled some tight spells through the tournament and was the Player of the Match in the semifinal against England for his figures of 3-23. He was used as a floater in the batting order and scored a crucial 47 off 31 balls in the final against South Africa in Barbados.
In an interview with the Indian Express, he opened up on his interesting journey as a spin bowler. Stating that he was initially a fast bowler, he added that his U-16 coach had a big role in him becoming a left-arm spinner.
"Sometimes I still fail to understand how I became a spin bowler. I was a fast bowler, and in U-16 my coach Sanjay Patel in Kheda said there is something wrong with my biomechanics and suggested I should turn to spin. I had zero interest in spin bowling. I was more interested in batting, but I used to get bored while fielding. So just to get those overs quickly, I started bowling spin and started taking wickets as well," he recalled.
The Gujarat all-rounder credited former India left-arm spinner Venkatapathy Raju for mentoring him and teaching him the finer aspects of spin bowling.
"When I went to NCA, Venkatapathy Raju sir was there and he had more confidence in my bowling than I ever had. He is the one who has worked on my bowling and made me understand the nuances of spin bowling," Axar said.
Having made his international debut back in 2014, the all-rounder has featured in 14 Tests, 57 ODIs and 60 T20Is, claiming 55, 60 and 58 wickets respectively.
Axar Patel featured in a defining partnership with Virat Kohli in the 2024 T20 World Cup final
Axar and Virat Kohli were involved in a crucial 72-run stand for the fourth wicket in the 2024 T20 World Cup final against South Africa in Barbados. Batting first after winning the toss, India were in big trouble, having lost three wickets for 34 runs.
Promoted in the batting order, Axar and Kohli lifted the Men in Blue and took them past the 100-run mark. The former struck one four and four sixes in his innings, easing the pressure on Kohli. India ended up posting 176-7 on the board and then held the Proteas to 169-8.