Flighting the ball has always been considered a hallmark of a good spinner but India’s modern-day left-arm tweaker Akshar Patel says he doesn’t even think of tossing the ball and banks on bowling flatter through the air.
“My style is to bowl quicker through the air, I don’t like to flight the ball much. I stick to my strength and don’t even think about tossing the ball. It was a flat skiddy wicket and I bowled according to the conditions,” Patel said after taking two wickets in India’s comfortable win over the West Indies in the third ODI here on Friday.
Besides removing opener Darren Bravo and Darren Sammy, 20-year-old Patel did the containing job well, conceding only 26 runs in 10 overs. His effort came amid heavy dew on the ground. “There was a lot of dew on the ground but we generally practice a lot with the wet ball. It helps me a lot in the match and the same was the case here,” said Patel, who played his fourth ODI on Friday.
Patel earned his India cap on the tour of Bangladesh following his impressive show for Kings XI Punjab in IPl-7. Dhoni was rested for the series, therefore it was the first time Patel bowled for India with Dhoni behind the stumps. “It was great to bowl with Dhoni keeping the wickets. A proud feeling as it was the first time he kept wickets on my bowling and hopefully I’ll get more chances under him,” said Patel.
Did he get any tips from the captainIJ “Nothing was said from the captain. He just said ‘bowl to your strength’. Samuels is a good batsman and was batting well. I just concentrated on not giving him a fuller length,” the Anand born cricketer said referring to Marlon Samuels, who scored a fighting 112 in vain.
Patel also bowled well in the recently held Champions league T20. “Both IPl and ClT20 are an ideal platform for the young domestic players.”