I consider myself a batting all-rounder: Akshar Patel

Akshar Patel views himself to be a batting all-rounder

Promising young cricketer Akshar Patel has said that he views himself as a batsman who bowls a bit rather than the other way around. The 20-year-old was adjudged Man-of-the-Match for his brilliant knock of 64 not out off 38 balls in the semi-final of the Deodhar Trophy in Mumbai on Monday, thereby helping his side West Zone chase down a total of 315 set by South Zone.

Patel said after the match that he started out as a batsman and started focusing on his bowling only three years ago.

"People have been telling me you are a bowling allrounder and cannot bat. I entered the game as a batsman. I concentrated more on my bowling when I went to the NCA in 2011-12. I have always said that I can bat and I have proved it often on the field," he said.

He further added that he started off as an opening batsman, and only after his coaches at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru encouraged him to take his bowling more seriously, did he start to turn his arm over.

However, the 20-year-old considers that move to be an advantage today.

“I started my career as an opening batsman. In NCA (2011-12 under 19 camp), I was told by (coaches) V Venkatram and Dinesh Nanavati that I will be in the bowling group. Now it has become an advantage,” he said.

Wanted to take the match till the last overs: Patel

Speaking about the win, Patel said that he wanted to take the match until the final overs and trusted his partners at the other end to provide him support.

"After Surya got out I was thinking about taking the team as close to the target as possible because Dhawal Kulkarni and Shardul Thakur can bat and give me a stand. And I wanted to stay and play till the 48-49th over.

"We did well in the Powerplay (adding 67 runs while losing Yadav's wicket) and came back into the game. But obviously when Surya got out it felt that we were again a little out of the game. But then Shardul came in and gave me a good stand and it became easy," the Gujarat cricketer said.

Playing for India has helped me: Patel

Patel was part of the Indian squad that whitewashed Sri Lanka 5-0 recently, and he said that the time that he spent with the national team has made him a much more confident cricketer.

"Playing for India gives confidence and teaches you to play under pressure and it helps in matches like today. Virat Kohli too appreciated me so that too (is a confidence booster)," he said.

"I am happy that I am doing well with the bat and the ball. I am working on the arm-ball. And in batting too, I am strong square of the wicket, so am working on drives etc.," he added.

When asked about his plans for the 2015 World Cup, Patel said that he is not thinking too much about the mega event and is instead focusing on the upcoming domestic season.

"Obviously it (World Cup) is on the radar, but I am not thinking about it. I am looking at things match by match and focusing on the tournaments that I am playing. Also, there is Ranji Trophy. If I do well there, it might increase my chances," he said.