India all-rounder Axar Patel bounced back in style in the first ODI against England after enduring a disappointing run in the T20I leg of the UK tour, where India failed to win a single match against England and Ireland.

Axar struggled with the bat throughout the seven T20Is. He scored 3, 1, 10, 2 and 3 in the five-match series against England, followed by 14 and 15 in the two games against Ireland.

However, the left-hander found his touch again in the ODI series opener at Edgbaston. He produced a match-winning all-round performance, taking four wickets in 9.5 overs before scoring a composed 57 off 52 balls, an innings that included five fours and a six.

His efforts helped India chase down 259 with four wickets in hand and 28 balls to spare. Captain Shubman Gill led the way with 80, while Washington Sundar also made a valuable 52.

How Axar regained his form in ODIs

After being named Player of the Match, Axar admitted that he had changed his approach after the difficult T20I series. Instead of trying to force big shots, he focused on timing the ball and building his innings.

“It was very important for me to deliver this kind of performance. As for my mindset, I needed to keep at it. I had to stay focused rather than thinking it would just happen on its own. I had to have self-belief and execute my plans. I feel like I was trying to hit the ball too hard during the T20Is,” Axar, who was adjudged player of the match, told ‘JioStar’.

He said the situation in T20 cricket often leaves batters with little choice but to attack from the start, which affected his rhythm.

How Axar's batting changed in 1st ODI

Axar managed only 19 runs in the five-match T20I series against England, which India lost 0-4. He said his main focus in the ODI was to trust his timing rather than power.

“I wasn’t trying to hit the ball too hard because I knew I had time and could afford to take a few balls as well. I was focusing on my timing. On this kind of wicket, it is very important to trust the bounce. Once you start reading it well, I think you can score runs,” he said.

Axar Patel on Edgbaston pitch

Speaking about the conditions at Edgbaston, Axar said batting was not easy for new players because the pitch offered bounce, swing and seam movement early on.

“…whoever was new to the crease found it very difficult to come in and start hitting straight away. Even for them, it became easier for Joe Root and Liam Dawson once the partnership was set.

“So I think spending some time at the crease after coming in to bat was very important. On such wickets, you cannot come in and play shots on the rise immediately because there was bounce, and it was swinging and seaming as well. You have to give yourself that little bit of time, and after that, you could play your shots,” he said.


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