JOIN USKings XI Punjab’s Sandeep Sharma may have walked away with the man of the match honour after prising out the top three batsmen of Royal Challengers Bangalore on Friday but in terms of overall impact, Axar Patel stood out strongly.
When accomplished batsmen Martin Guptill, Shaun Marsh, Manan Vohra and Glenn Maxwell perished while trying to up the ante on a sluggish Chinnaswamy Stadium pitch that made shot-making difficult, Axar produced a brilliant 17-ball 38 not out.
Realising that cross-batted shots wound’t work, the 23-year-old spinning all-rounder unleashed some ferocious shots to power his side to 138/7 that seemed out of bounds. In fact, he carted Shane Watson for 19 runs in the final over that eventually proved to be the difference.
“I think it was a slow wicket with low bounce,” said Axar at the post-match press conference. “If one played with a straight bat, it was easier. A pull or a cut square of the wicket was not on. The more you played with a straight bat, it was better. Dealing with length balls was difficult. It wasn't coming on to the bat. It was a two-paced wicket.”
Having struggled themselves and aware of RCB’s woeful run, Axar said the team believed they could defend the low total.
“We knew that the wicket was not easy especially for a new batsman. If the batsman plays a good shot, so be it. Like how AB (de Villiers) hit a straight drive. But length balls from the wicket was two-paced. Some kept low, some slow. We planned to keep the momentum with us. Even if they charge, we shouldn't lose our line and length,” said Axar, who shone with the ball too, bagging 3/11 with two of the sticks being that of Shane Watson and the dangerous Pawan Negi.