Given how spectacularly Axar Patel’s stock has risen over the last year, it’s a touch hard to come to terms with his revelation that he was a reluctant cricketer to begin with. During the course of a conversation with the 20-year-old (he clarified he spells it Axar, not Akshar), it becomes apparent that his is a quirky coming-of-age tale dripping with fun and celluloid drama.
“I started playing serious cricket four years ago. I was a late-starter and I had no idea about cricket at this level,” said Axar, who is here with the Gujarat team for the Buchi Babu all-India tournament.
It was thanks to his “special friend” Dhiren Kansara that his cricketing career took off, albeit in entirely bizarre circumstances. “When I was in class nine, he persuaded me to play an inter-school tournament. When he told me that a team couldn’t be formed, I got together a group of friends to make up the numbers.
“Once he revealed the tournament was played with a leather ball, I gave him a piece of my mind. I didn’t want to get hit,” said the Kings XI Punjab left-arm spinner, who was adjudged the emerging player of the Indian Premier League (IPL) this year.
But then, Axar was told if the team pulled out, the school wouldn’t receive an entry for the following three years. “I didn’t want the school to suffer because of me, and I played the game,” said Axar. However, his performance impressed the secretary of the Kheda district team who wanted to draft him into the side.
Axar, though, wanted to become an engineer. “I was a good student and stood first in school till I was in class X.” But, learning of Axar’s cricketing potential from his friends in the cricket circle, his father insisted Axar take up cricket seriously. “I would give the impression I was going for practice sessions and instead play gully -cricket,” laughed Axar.
His father, though, eventually discovered his son’s misadventures.
“He asked me why I would do something like that when he provided me with all the facilities, despite the financial constraints. I then started taking things seriously.”
Emotional influenceAnother emotional influence was his grandmother, who understood that “blue T-shirt waale ” played for India. She would tell Axar about wanting to watch him play on TV. When Axar made his One-Day International debut against Bangladesh this June, she wasn’t there to savour the moment.
“She died while I was playing a district game and I couldn’t even be there for her funeral. It was then that my resolve to play for India and appear on TV strengthened,” Axar’s voice turned tremulous.
As the conversation segued into happier moments, Axar acknowledged he didn’t expect to play for India “this early”. The IPL, understandably, has shaped much of his learning.
“At Kings XI Punjab, the big takeaway was learning to analyse opponents’ strengths and weaknesses and thinking smartly. Off the field, David Miller and Glenn Maxwell are very mischievous. These guys, captain George Bailey, and coach Sanjay Bangar show genuine interest in my progress and continue to keep in touch. That’s very heartening.”
Although disappointed at being dropped for the limited-overs series in England, Axar felt he had to keep improving. “With my height, my natural strength is bounce and arm-speed. I am trying to spin the ball hard and develop a few variations while also concentrating on my batting.”
Axar, who grew up idolising Yuvraj Singh, said he didn’t want the celebrity-status he’s accorded back home to get to his head. “My success has resulted in cricketing facilities improving considerably in Nadiad. People now believe our town can throw up top cricketers.”
