‘I Was Trying to Hit Too Hard…’: Axar Patel Reveals What Changed After T20I Struggles as India Beat England in 1st ODI

Axar Patel has opened up about the batting adjustment that helped him rediscover his form after a disappointing T20I campaign. The Indian all-rounder admitted he was trying to hit the ball too hard during the shortest format but found success by trusting his timing in the opening ODI against England.

Axar produced one of his finest all-round performances in recent months, playing a pivotal role in India’s four-wicket victory at Edgbaston. He first starred with the ball by claiming 4 wickets before anchoring the chase with a composed 57 off 52 deliveries, helping India comfortably chase down a target of 259.

His innings, featuring five boundaries and a six, complemented valuable contributions from captain Shubman Gill, who scored 80, and Washington Sundar, who added a crucial 52.

Axar Reflects on Difficult T20I Tour

The performance marked a welcome turnaround for Axar after a frustrating T20I series against England and Ireland.

Across the five T20Is against England, the left-hander managed scores of 3, 1, 10, 2 and 3, before adding 14 and 15 in the two matches against Ireland. With India struggling throughout the tour, Axar admitted his batting approach needed to change.

After receiving the Player of the Match award, the all-rounder revealed that he consciously moved away from trying to overpower the ball.“It was very important for me to deliver this kind of performance. I had to keep believing in myself and stick to my plans. During the T20Is, I felt I was trying to hit the ball too hard,” Axar said after the match.

Timing Over Power Made the Difference

Axar explained that the nature of T20 cricket often forces middle-order batters to attack immediately, especially when they arrive during the death overs.“When you go in to bat in the death overs, you don’t have much time, so naturally you try to hit from the beginning. In the ODI, I knew I had enough time, so I focused more on timing than power,” he said.

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The change in mindset allowed him to settle into his innings before accelerating, something that proved decisive in India’s successful run chase.

Edgbaston Demanded Patience

Axar also highlighted the challenges posed by the Edgbaston surface, which offered assistance to fast bowlers early in the innings.

According to him, new batters found it difficult to score immediately because of the bounce, swing and seam movement available.

He pointed out that even Joe Root and Liam Dawson looked more comfortable only after spending time at the crease and building a partnership.“You have to give yourself a little bit of time on this wicket. Once you understand the bounce, you can trust your shots and score freely. Trying to play attacking strokes straight away wasn’t easy because the ball was swinging and seaming,” Axar explained.

Confidence Boost Ahead of the Series

Axar’s impressive all-round display not only earned him the Player of the Match award but also provided India with a major confidence boost after a disappointing T20I leg of the UK tour.

With the ODI series now underway, India will hope the experienced all-rounder can carry this form into the remaining matches as Shubman Gill’s side looks to build momentum against England.

For Axar Patel, the opening ODI was more than just a match-winning performance—it was proof that sometimes trusting timing over brute force is the key to turning form around.