Akshar bagged 27 wickets in India’s 3-1 Test series win over England at home.
The left-arm spinner, who came into the side as a replacement for Ravindra Jadeja, missed the first Test in Chennai due to injury while his five-wicket haul in the second innings of the second Test scripted India’s series-levelling 317-run victory.
Akshar didn’t look back thereafter, claiming two five-wicket hauls in India’s 10-wicket victory during the third Test and a second innings fifer in the fourth Test.
"I think confidence helped me. I got wickets in the first game and kept on carrying the confidence," said Akshar after India’s innings and 25-run victory in the final Test on March 6.
"I only bowled faster ones more often in the previous games but here we needed to vary our pace," he added.
Akshar Patel also displayed his batting potential during the four-Test series. He scored a valuable 43 in India’s first innings in the final Test and shared a significant 106-run stand with Washington Sundar (96 not out).
"When I and Washington were batting, we thought the pace variation wasn't there. When I got back after being run-out, I didn't have enough time to talk to Washington as we were bowled out," he said while talking about his partnership with Sundar.
With 27 wickets in the series, Akshar also equalled Dilip Doshi's record of most wickets (27) in a debut Test series for India. While Doshi had picked up 27 wickets in 6 Tests, Akshar achieved the feat in just three games.
(With ANI inputs)