#4 Axar Patel
In the star-studded Punjab team, the presence of Axar Patel is often unnoticed. However, in the last three seasons, this left arm spinner has remained a key contributor to the team’s success. His crafty and accurate spin bowling has ensured that the absence of an experienced international spinner is not felt and to add to that he also has the ability to hit it big in the slog overs and contribute effectively in the batting department.
Axar’s all-round performance brings balance in Punjab’s unit and hence the team management will be eager to retain him.
The Kings XI bowler often flies under the radar because he doesn’t pick up wickets in heaps. In fact in his 59 matches so far he has picked up four wickets in an innings only once. But that does not decrease his value as his main role is to put brakes on the scoring rate and he has been highly successful in that.
He often bowls flat and close to the stumps which decrease his wicket-taking opportunities but at the same time, it makes him difficult to hit. Hence, he is effective in the powerplays as well as during death overs.
In batting, he averages 20.20 which is a decent number in T20 format. This year, Maxwell and Co. often promoted him up in the batting order and Axar didn’t disappoint as in 2017 his batting average jumped to 28.37.
Axar’s bowling skills can alone make him a part of Punjab’s T20 unit while his batting abilities further cement his position in the side.
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