Akshar Patel put on a show with the ball as India bundled out New Zealand for 296 on Day 3 of the opening Test at Green Park Stadium in Kanpur.
The left-arm spinner returned with the impressive figures of 5 for 62, which ensured a handy first-innings lead of 49 runs for the hosts. Tom Latham (95), Ross Taylor (11), Henry Nicholls (2), Tom Blundell (13), and Tim Southee (5) were his victims.
It was Akshar’s fifth five-wicket haul in just seven completed Test innings, an incredible feat even if all of them have come in the spin-friendly conditions at home.
Speaking after the third day’s play, Akshar said the secret of his success lies in enjoying his craft and not restricting himself as a T20 specialist.
"Whenever I have played first-class or India A, I have done well. I have never seen myself as a white-ball specialist," he said in the press conference.
"It's all in mindset as to what you perceive yourself as – a white-ball specialist or red ball specialist. I always had the belief that whenever I get a chance I will do well. Obviously, I give credit to team members for having faith in me and I have been able to stand up to their expectations," he added.
When asked if he feels extra pressure with the presence of R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja in the same playing XI, Akshar replied: "Whenever I go to the ground, I try and enjoy and not think about whether Ashwin bhai and Jaddu are there. When I have ball in my hand, I just try and see to it that I am enjoying my bowling, trying to read the wicket and understand what’s happening, how it's behaving and plan accordingly."
"I don’t think about whether my role is a lead one or whether there are senior bowlers around me, I only think about my bowling and what is required to be done in that particular spell," he further remarked.
Akshar made subtle changes while bowling on Day 3 compared to his first spell on the second day.
"I used the crease much more today and I didn’t use the crease a lot in the 10 overs that I bowled yesterday. I was using the crease by going wide and coming near the stumps, creating various angles, and that helped me get a lot of purchase," he said.
Patel revealed that stand-in captain Ajinkya Rahane and head coach Rahul Dravid helped in keeping a calm dressing room when the home team didn’t get the first breakthrough for 67 overs.
"Obviously, if you don't get a wicket for 67 overs, it's tough but dressing room was calm as Ajju bhai and Rahul sir kept a calm environment. They said we have to keep patience because if we get one, we will get a few more and then we can make inroads. We got the reward for our persistence in the first and second session," he concluded.
(With PTI inputs)
