Without Axar Patel’s 3/23 in the semi-final against England and his 31-ball 47 at No.5 in the decider versus South Africa, it would have been mighty difficult for India to win their second T20 World Cup crown last month. But the unsung hero has
no complaints.

The disappointing phases of his life are “an experience” as Axar is now going through the “best days” of his career.

“What happened with me (left quadriceps injury) before the 50-over World Cup last year was unfortunate. When you suddenly have to be on the back foot after reaching a certain level, it obviously puts you down.

“But those incidents were also an experience for me. They taught me not to delve much into injuries as you can’t have much control over them.

“My focus thus was completely on the comeback and thereafter, I just kept thinking about what’s in my control. Taking one series at a time, I played with a positive mindset in the matches (T20Is) against Australia and Afghanistan. It’s only after my name was in the World Cup squad that I started thinking about it.

“Staying in the present is what I believe in. And yes, the last few months have been the best days of my career. My dream was fulfilled,” the left-arm spinner all-rounder told The Telegraph from Ahmedabad on Friday.

Ravindra Jadeja’s retirement from T20Is means Axar will be India’s first-choice spinner all-rounder in the format. And that begins with the upcoming Sri Lanka tour. Axar though doesn’t want to put extra pressure on himself, thinking there’s extra responsibility on him.

“I’m just looking to keep it as simple as possible. When he (Jadeja) hadn’t retired from T20Is, I was still in the team and when he was playing in the format, I was playing then as well. So, I don’t think my mindset has changed or it needs to change. I am not thinking on those lines, to be honest,” the JSW athlete, fresh from a short break following the T20 Cup success, stated.

“Even when he wasn’t there (in T20Is), I still knew my role and what I needed to do. I always knew what would work for me, so I’ll keep focusing
on that.”

A new chapter for Team India is set to begin under new head coach Gautam Gambhir. How’s Axar looking at it?

“We’ll get together in Sri Lanka, have our meetings and then find out what’s going to happen. Two to three days after reaching, there will be more interaction and we’ll come to know about his (Gambhir’s) mindset and planning, and tell him about ours.

“So, it’s only after those meetings that we’ll come to know if our roles may change and what he’s thinking,” the 30-year-old signed off.