Former Indian cricketer Pragyan Ojha believes that Akshar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja both are similar but yet very different bowlers while saying the veteran all-rounder’s pace variation made him more dangerous for the batsmen to face in Test cricket.
He further pointed out that Jadeja’s strength is to bowl quicker through the air and his experience in varying the pace that makes him more unpredictable and more dangerous for the batsmen to face, whereas Patel’s variation is the ball that turns.
Ojha said on Sports Today: “When you compare Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja, both are similar but yet very different. Jadeja is a guy who can turn the ball and the ball coming in with the arm is his variation. For Akshar Patel, his go-to ball is the one that comes with the arm, comes straight. And his variation becomes the ball that turns away. So he is different.”
The former spinner further said two bowlers are completely different in their delivery.
He further went on to explain by saying, “In the Pink Ball Test or in Chennai, they [England] were trying to play expecting the ball to turn, but it was coming straight and hitting the pads and it was creating the bat and pad gap, getting those batsmen bowled. That is his natural, stock delivery. And his variation is the ball that turns. But for Jadeja, it’s totally different.”
Ojha continued, “When Jadeja came in, he was bowling quicker through the air, but over the years, after playing so many test matches, he started varying the pace. That’s when he became more dangerous. He had that pace in the ball, accuracy, everything. But once you start varying the pace, that’s when you become more difficult for a batsman.”
He also lauded Akshar for his recent performance in the ongoing four-match Test series against England, especially in the day-night Test – as the left-arm spinner scalped a record 11-wicket haul in the third Test while returned with 7 wickets in his debut Test match in Chennai.
Ojha signed off by saying, “First of all, this is just the very beginning for Axar Patel. I hope he’s not thinking that Test cricket is easy. I’m sure he’s not, I know him very well. He’s a very dedicated boy and he focuses on every single thing and he doesn’t think too much ahead of him, he focuses and delivers in the present and also enjoys it. The way Axar has started, we all him to continue his run.”
