Axar Patel picked up two wickets in the first T20I against Sri Lanka.
Invited bat first, the visitors got off to a dominating start as the duo of Yashasvi Jaiswal (40 off 21) and Shubman Gill (34 off 16) added 74 runs for the opening wicket in just 36 balls.
Batting at No. 3, skipper Suryakumar Yadav slammed a scintillating half-century (58 off 26) while Rishabh Pant returned with 49 off 33 balls to propel India to a massive 213/7 in 20 overs.
In reply, Sri Lanka’s innings folded for 170 in 19.2 overs despite the 84-run opening stand between Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis. India’s spin troika of Axar Patel (2/38), Riyan Parag (3/5) and Ravi Bishnoi (1/37) ran through the home side’s batting line-up, sharing six wickets among them.
After the game, Axar hailed Suryakumar as a bowlers' captain, who allows them the freedom to execute their plans.
The spin all-rounder also said that the tourists will look to maximise their batting combinations in the ongoing series against Sri Lanka.
"I played in the last Australia series with Surya bhai (as captain). I know that he is a bowlers' captain. He gives you free hand (in a way) that you decide first," Axar said at the post-match press conference.
"Whenever you get hit, he comes and says that it was a good ball. He keeps giving you inputs. As a player, there is a good bond with him."
Axar recalled the experience of playing under Suryakumar’s captaincy in the five-match T20I series against Australia late last year which India won 4-1.
“As a captain, I have also played with him in the last five matches (against Australia) and when I was playing today, I didn’t feel much change,” he said.
"In the first three overs when we were going for runs, he was telling me that we can do this or do that and how we can take a wicket. There is no problem if a four or six goes in it. As a bowler, you get confidence from that if the captain is backing you and telling you that you can do this."
Axar said India’s batting line-up in the series opener was formulated with the idea that the team maximises its left and right-hand options.
Notably, wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant batted at No. 3 during the T20 World Cup last month but the southpaw dropped to No. 4 in the first T20I against Sri Lanka.
“Our team has four lefties and four righties. If there is a left-right combination (in the middle), it becomes very hard for the bowlers to maintain the line and lengths consistently especially with rotations with singles.”
“Now if there are four lefties, how can you use them? If you have that chance (to ensure) that there are no two lefties or two righties (in the middle) at the same time,” he said, adding, “If you have that chance, if you have those players in batting, then why not use them? You also have to keep changing the batting order as per the bowling options that the opposition has got.”
The first T20I against Sri Lanka marked the start of Gautam Gambhir’s tenure as head coach of the Indian cricket team.
Axar revealed that the message from India's new staff under head coach Gambhir has been that the team will not experience a major overhaul in the way it operated.
“I have been playing for 10 years. I have played with different coaches and captains. I don't think a lot will change in the team,” Axar said.
“When we were talking in the team meeting, they also said the same thing that the coach and captain keep changing but the team remains the same and the 11 or 15 players who stay, they have to do it,” he stated.
“They have told us that we will play the way we have been playing. Obviously, the coach and his input can be different. The thinking can be different, they keep telling you here and there. But there is not much change in the team's atmosphere,” he added.
(With PTI Inputs)