Published: Apr 05, 2016, 11:49 PM (IST)
Edited: Apr 05, 2016, 11:51 PM (IST)
Kings XI Punjab spinner Akshar Patel was not a part of Team India that featured in ICC World T20 2016. Though he toured Down Under January, he did not get a chance to make it to the playing XI. With Ravindra Jadeja already in the team, chance of Akshar making a comeback seems bleak. He knows he can be predictable after a couple of seasons at the highest level and that is why he will be seen tossing up the odd ball during the upcoming IPL and not rely only on flatter deliveries. “You expect top batsmen to read you well after two-three seasons at this level and that is why I felt the need to add more variety to my bowling. I am tossing up the odd ball in training but it doesn’t mean I will only do that. I will continue bowling the flatters ones and try to mix it with the odd flighted ball,” Patel told PTI from Mohali where he is training alongside his Kings XI Punjab teammates.
The season starting on April 9 is crucial for Patel, who has been sidelined from the Indian team after the return of senior pro Ravindra Jadeja and another left-arm spinner Pawan Negi getting the selectors’ nod over him for the recently concluded World T20. Also read: IPL 2016: Spectators to play third umpire in IPL 9
Though the 22-year-old was part of India’s 50-over squad in Australia, he did not get a game and last played for the country in October. But the spinner, who is often criticised for not turning the ball enough, is not perturbed by the selectors’ snub.
