Indian spin all-rounder Akshar Patel opened up about the chilly weather in Mohali and how he requested the umpire for help, but he denied it during the first T20I against Afghanistan.
Akshar dismissed Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Rahmat Shah to finish with brilliant figures of 2/23 in his quota of 4 overs to help Team India restrict Afghanistan to 158/5 in the opening game of the three-match T20I series on Thursday, January 11.
Later, Shivan Dube’s unbeaten fifty helped the Men in Blue win the game by six wickets with 15 balls to spare to take a 1-0 lead in the ongoing three-match T20I series against Afghanistan.
After the match, Akshar admitted that the chilly weather made his job slightly difficult, and even he went for help, but the on-field umpire denied him wearing at least one hand glove in Mohali.
Akshar Patel told Jio Cinema during the mid-match interaction: “I wasn't feeling the ball, it was very cold. We knew it was winter and would be cold, but I was only thinking about my bowling, and how to put pressure on them. There was a lot of dew, but I focused on my accuracy.
He added, “Maine umpire se poocha tha ki main ek haath me gloves pehen ke bowling kar lu, lekin unhone mana kar dia” (I had asked the umpire if I can wear a glove in one hand, but he said no).
