Glenn Maxwell says I'm the best bowler in the world: Akshar Patel

Akshar Patel receives his Emerging Player award

Akshar Patel, the young left-arm spinner from Kheda, a small town near Ahmedabad, with his impressive IPL season managed to win a fan in his Kings XI team-mate Glenn Maxwell.

“Maxwell always says that I’m the best bowler in the world. Even in the nets and practice games, I conceded fewer runs than anyone else,” he told the Indian Express in an exclusive chat.

Akshar Patel was part of the Mumbai Indians squad for the 2013 season where he did’t get a game. Yuzvendra Chahal, the Royal Challengers Bangalore leg-spinner was also his teammate at Mumbai.

With the experienced Murali Kartik having been bought in the auction not many would have given the 20-year-old a go in the first team. But the Kings XI Punjab management, coach Sanjay Bangar, had other ideas.

With the best economy rate of the season at 6.13, Patel helped the Kings reach their first final in all IPL seasons.

“Sanjay bhai had seen me during my under-19 days. Before the IPL, he had said that I could get a chance this time. But with Murali Kartik already part of the squad, I was not sure whether the team would go in with two left-arm spinners, or with me playing ahead of him,” he explains.

Commenting about his conversations with Virender Sehwag: “I just wanted to know how he remains so calm in pressure situations always. He said, he does so by trying to diffuse the pressure by thinking about something light-hearted. Or he will sing and try to keep his mind calm,” said Akshar.

“There is no point in letting the pressure get to you, as that will have a bearing on your performance,” he added.

He would normally be travelling in crowded buses from Ahmedabad to Kheda, but not anymore. The ‘Emerging Player of the IPL’ award winner and someone who is about to make his debut for India in the Bangladesh tour, Akshar was welcomed with a huge gathering of people.

On speaking about his return to his home town: “The whole town was out there to greet me with flowers, bouquets and handshakes. It took a while before I could even go to my home. It was a long day. It’s night now and my house is still flooded with visitors and well-wishers. This is the first time any cricketer from this town has made such a mark,” Patel told The Indian Express.