Indian batting coach Sitanshu Kotak has revealed the actual reason behind the Indian team management promoting Axar Patel to No.5 in the ongoing ODI series against New Zealand Down Under.
Speaking at the pre-match press conference in Hamilton, Kotak disclosed that Axar is a capable batter and added that the call was taken to keep the left-right batting combination, while acknowledging KL Rahul’s amazing finishing skills.
“Yes, one reason is definitely the left-right combination. Another factor is recognizing KL’s strength in finishing games. Furthermore, Axar has previously batted at number five in ODIs quite often; he is a capable batter. The reality is, if a tactic doesn’t yield runs, people question why the player was sent up; if it works, people call it a brilliant move. That’s just how it goes,” Kotak said during the pre-match press conference.
In the first ODI, Axar was dismissed for a two-ball duck, while he scored seven off 17 balls in the second ODI. Nevertheless, India bagged wins in both games, taking a 2-0 lead in the five-game series.
Kotak also heaped praise on KL Rahul, who featured at No. 6 in both ODIs of the ongoing series. He highlighted Rahul’s adaptability, pointing out that the wicketkeeper-batter has the ability to adjust his approach and play according to the team’s requirements, regardless of the format.
“I think KL Rahul’s biggest advantage is that he opens in red-ball cricket, bats in the middle order in white-ball ODIs, and whenever required, he bats at number five where his record is great, or at number six where it is equally good. He is someone who plays according to the needs of the team. Since I joined, I can hardly remember many matches where he got a chance to bat and didn’t contribute,” Kotak added.
