Axar Patel: If I do well, I will get picked

Axar Patel has revealed that Team India made plans to tackle Ross Taylor and Tom Latham after New Zealand used the sweep to beat India emphatically in the first ODI of the series. Taylor and Latham had added 200 in the first ODI to win the match. India recovered to win the series 2-1, and claimed the first T20 as well.

Speaking about India’s plans, Axar said in the pre-match conference, "They played the sweep well in the first game. We knew that against spinners that was the strategy they will adopt and we formalised our strategy as per that by changing the angle by bowling over and round the wicket," said Axar.

Axar has been chosen over Ravindra Jadeja in the last few matches, and has done reasonably well. "I have got a place in the team and that's why I am playing. I am of the view that if I do well in one game, I will automatically be picked in the next match,” he added.

Praising skipper Virat Kohli, the left-arm spinner went on to say, "The captain backs you when you do well. I have been playing from the second ODI. He gives me the freedom to bowl what I want to. He leaves it to us to decide on what to do. He says if that plan doesn't succeed even then I will back you, which gives us confidence to bowl with a free mind.”

--By A Cricket Correspondent