5 months ago
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The determination to beforehand Axar Patel to No. 3 successful the 2nd T20I against South Africa did not spell according to plan. Axar laboured to a run-a-ball 21 — not perfect erstwhile chasing a large score.
Axar’s elevation is successful keeping with the flexible attack followed by the squad management, highlighted by caput manager Gautam Gambhir’s caller connection that batting orders are overrated successful white-ball cricket.
At New Chandigarh, however, it was a recognised batter, Tilak Varma, who excelled. Tilak, batting astatine No. 5, made a 34-ball 62 adjacent arsenic his teammates failed.
This begs the question — is Tilak amended suited to bash the occupation astatine No. 3? The southpaw is unfastened to the idea, but reiterated that batters should beryllium capable to people astatine each positions.
“Everyone is flexible and unfastened to bat anywhere. I’m acceptable to bat astatine three, four, 5 oregon six — wherever the squad prefers. If you are mentally strong, you tin bash good successful immoderate number,” Tilak said successful the pre-match property league successful Dharamshala connected Saturday (December 13, 2025).
The 23-year-old defended the determination to nonstop Axar up of him. “Axar did this relation precise good successful the 2024 T20 World Cup. On immoderate days, things whitethorn not spell to plan,” helium said.
