Important games for me: Akshar Patel

AHMEDABAD: When Akshar Patel came to know about his selection in the Indian team for the last two ODIs and the lone T20 against the visiting West Indies, he immediately knew that these three matches were the most important matches of his life till now. With Patel's statemate Ravindra Jadeja (both left-arm spinners and lower-order bat) not performing up to his potential in recent times and the World Cup round the corner, the Indian think tank may well be expcting the Kings XI all-rounder to deliver the goods.
"I would be lying if I say that I don't understand the situation I am in. If I get an opportunity to play, these three matches will be very important for me and I will try to do better than I have done so far. Playing the World Cup is every cricketer's dream. If I can make it that far, it will be a dream come true. But I am seriously not thinking too much about it at the moment. My focus right now is the two ODIs and the T20 against the West Indies," said Akshar from Rohtak where he is now for the Duleep Trophy.
When Patel was first included in the Indian team for a three-match ODI series in Bangladesh in June this year, he was actually filling up for some seniors who were given a post-IPL break ahead of the important England tour. He had an impressive IPL but didn't set the stage on fire on his debut. He scored just nine runs in two innings and picked up one wicket in three matches but whenever he has taken the field he has made one thing clear that one shouldn't judge him so soon.
The 20-year-old Nadiad boy redeemed himself with his excellent allround performance and fighting spirit during the Champions League T20 where he claimed eight wickets from five matches and came good with the bat also. The way he blasted West Indian pacer Ravi Rampaul for 22 runs in one over apparently made Indian selectors see him as the future of Indian cricket.
"I have told many times before that my batting is as good as my bowling. I have scored whenever I have got the opportunity and moreover, I have batted according to the need of the team. Both bowling and batting comes very naturally to me and I can handle both the art perfectly well. I am never under any kind of pressure whether I am batting or bowling. But having said that I also want to add that I am always working to improve on both departments," said Patel and added: "I am aware of the competition that I am in. But I will keep playing my game and look to improve with every performance and leave selection issues to the selectors. I just don't want people to be judgmental about me based on one or two performances."