As the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 season approaches, teams are strategizing their lineups to put together the strongest possible squad. One such team is the Delhi Capitals, who have decided to make a bold move by sending the all-rounder Axar Patel at number 4.
Rishabh Pant has been an integral part of Delhi’s batting lineup for several seasons, consistently performing as a top-order batter, but as he has been ruled out of IPL due to an fatal car accident that he survived few months back. However, the team’s management has now decided to give Axar Patel a chance to bat higher up the order.
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While Patel’s bowling skills are well-known, his batting ability has often been overlooked. However, he has shown glimpses of his batting prowess in the past, most notably in the 2021 IPL season, where he scored 100 runs in just six innings at a strike rate of 140.85. He also played a crucial role in the recently concluded Border-Gavaskar Trophy by playing three important knocks for team India.
Replacing a captain and a top-order batter with an all-rounder may seem like a risky move, but it is a decision that Delhi Capitals believe will pay off in the long run. The team’s head coach, Ricky Ponting, has been impressed with Patel’s batting during training sessions and believes that he has the potential to be a valuable asset in the middle order.
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Patel’s promotion up the order will also give Delhi Capitals more depth in their batting lineup. With Sarfaraz Khan and Mitch Marsh already in the middle order, Patel’s inclusion will add more firepower and flexibility to the team’s batting lineup.
If Axar Patel can replicate his bowling form with the bat and provide stability to the middle order, Delhi Capitals could have a real chance of lifting their first IPL title in 2023. Patel has been a consistent performer for Delhi Capitals over the years, both with the bat and ball. In last three seasons, he has picked over 2 dozens wickets.