IND v ENG 2021: "Was very happy that my first Test wicket was Joe Root," says Akshar Patel

Akshar Patel dismissed Joe Root for 6 runs.

Akshar Patel dismissed Joe Root | BCCI

Indian cricketer Akshar Patel while reflecting on his maiden Test wicket Joe Root, in the second Test match between India and England revealed how he planned Root’s wicket while watching the first Test and said that he was very happy to get the wicket.

Akshar Patel was all set to debut for Team India in Test cricket in the first Test match, which Team India lost by 227 runs, but was ruled out after he complained of pain in his left knee during a training session before the first Test. 

However, debuting for Team India in the second Test Akshar Patel had a memorable Test debut as he managed to get two important wickets including one of double centurion from the first Test Joe Root for only 6 and Moeen Ali to finish with figures of 2 for 40 as the visitors were bundled out for 134 runs in their first innings.

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During an interaction with his teammate Cheteshwar Pujara on BCCI.tv, Akshar Patel revealed how he pre-planned Root’s dismissal by watching him bat in the first Test and said that he wanted his first wicket to be Root. 

“When I was watching the first Test I noticed that Joe Root plays a lot of sweeps and reverse sweep shots, and I thought that with the speed that I bowl at, I had the opportunity to get him out, and I wanted my first wicket to be his dismissal,” Akshar Patel told on BCCI.Tv

Patel further revealed how he plotted Root’s downfall and said that he was very happy to get the wicket. 

“I thought that if he tries to sweep my delivery, he may get out LBW. When he went for the sweep shot and made the mistake, to get an in-form batsman who has recently hit multiple centuries and double centuries. You can see it in the video how happy I was to get the wicket,” he said.

 

 
 

By Ankitjit Singh - 15 Feb, 2021

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