“Surprised that Axar Patel was sent to bat at No. 9” - Wasim Jaffer baffled with India’s tactics in Indore Test 

Former India player Wasim Jaffer has expressed surprise at the management’s decision to send Axar Patel to bat at No. 9 in the second innings of the Indore Test on Thursday (March 2). Pointing out that the all-rounder has been India’s best batter in the series so far, Jaffer said that the move to hold him back made little sense.

Axar, who's the second-leading run-getter in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy, with 185 runs from four innings, was stranded on 15* as India were bowled out for 163 in their second innings. The left-hander batted at No. 8 in the first innings and returned undefeated on 12 as the hosts were bundled out for 109 in 33.2 overs.

India’s second-innings batting failure means Australia only need 76 on Day 3 to win the Indore Test. While discussing the hosts’ forgettable batting effort, Jaffer said on ESPNcricinfo:

“I am surprised that Axar Patel was sent to bat at No. 9. He ran out of partners. He is one of the guys who has scored runs throughout the series, and he is batting at No. 9. In the first innings also, he ran out of partners. Even in the second innings, he was batting at No. 9. I am surprised at what the think tank was thinking. He has looked the most comfortable, batting on all the surfaces that we have seen so far in the series.”

While Axar hasn’t had much to do with the ball, he played a key role in India’s wins in Nagpur and Delhi, compiling resolute half-centuries in both Tests.

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“They didn’t let anybody have a big partnership” - Jaffer hails Australia’s fielding effort

After India bowled out Australia for 197 early on Day 2, their hopes of winning the Test were revived.

However, the batting once again flopped as Nathan Lyon claimed 8-64. According to Jaffer, apart from the off-spinner’s brilliance, Australia’s superb fielding also made a big difference. He elaborated:

“Indian batting didn’t have decent partnerships, like the Australians had in the first innings. The batters needed to stick around a little bit more. But you’ve got to give a lot of credit to the Australian fielders as well.

“The Khawaja catch (to dismiss Shreyas Iyer) - the partnership was building there. Iyer was playing well. He was taking on the spinners. Then Steve Smith taking that (Cheteshwar) Pujara catch. They didn’t let anybody have a big partnership.”

Shreyas (26) flicked Mitchell Starc, only for Khawaja to take a brilliant low catch, diving to his left. Smith, meanwhile, caught Pujara (59) at leg slip off Lyon, diving to his right.