Axar Patel on being named as T20I vice-captain: Don't have to prove anything

Axar Patel was named the vice captain of the Indian team for the T20I series. Asked about the transitioning side and the fact that he was named the deputy to Suryakumar Yadav, Axar gave a sharp response to the media in Kolkata.

In Short

• India begin their series vs England on January 22
• The first T20I will be played in Kolkata
• Axar Patel was named deputy to Suryakumar Yadav

Axar Patel does not have anything to prove to anyone, said the India all-rounder on Monday, January 20. Axar, who was named vice-captain of the T20I side against England, was speaking about the transitioning Indian team and whether he stood a chance to become one of the big gainers in the side.

Axar gave a sharp response to the question and said that him becoming the deputy to Suryakumar Yadav was the choice of the captain and the selectors and that he was focusing on playing his part in the XI.

Axar was named the deputy in the absence of Shubman Gill, who was named the vice-captain of the T20I side after India's T20 World Cup 2024 win. Interestingly, Axar was named the deputy in the absence of Shubman despite the presence of Hardik Pandya in the side, who was touted to become the next India captain in 2022, when he had led the side regularly in the absence of Rohit Sharma.

"Yes, a transition phase is coming, and ultimately, it's the selectors' and captain's call. I don't feel the need to prove anything to anyone," Axar said on Monday at Eden Gardens.

"My approach is to focus on fulfilling the role assigned to me and continuously improving myself. If I perform well, my place in the team will take care of itself automatically."

Axar said that his ambition was not limited to the T20I format. The player explained in an uncomplicated tone that he does not tell himself that he deserves a spot in the team. Axar argued that his job was to try and do well whenever the opportunity arrived—be it in T20I, ODI, or Test.

"I just keep telling myself that I have played all three formats, be it Tests, ODIs, or T20s. My focus is on doing well whenever I get an opportunity, rather than feeling the need to prove anything to anyone, whether I'm picked or not," Axar said.

While India captain Rohit Sharma had said that Axar was on a personal break due to the birth of his child, the all-rounder hinted that he had fallen back in the pecking order behind Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar. The left-hander, however, said that he was not disappointed with the selectors' call.

"I don't take the pressure of thinking that I deserve a spot. It is always about the team combination and whether there is any room for me. When it comes to selection or the Australia series, I think more about where I can get opportunities rather than whether I deserve a place," the all-rounder concluded.

India’s squad for T20I series against England

Suryakumar Yadav (C), Sanju Samson (wk), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel (vc), Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammad Shami, Varun Chakravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Washington Sundar, Dhruv Jurel (wk).