'You have rubbed salt into the wounds' - Axar Patel on missing chances to convert his fifties into centuries in ongoing Border Gavaskar Trophy

On Day 4 of the final Test of the Border-Gavskar Trophy, India gave a solid reply to Australia’s 480 runs after amassing 571 on the board in the first innings. With Virat Kohli’s magnificent 186 and Axar Patel’s spunky 79-run innings, India took a crucial 91-run lead. 

Earlier, following Ravindra Jadeja and Srikar Bharat’s dismissals, Axar Patel came out to bat on India’s score of 393/5. With the half-team at the pavilion, pair of Kohli-Patel had a responsibility to help the team take ahead of Australia’s first-innings score. Doing their job efficiently, both formed a 162-run partnership.

The left-hander looked aggressive with his bat, came close to scoring a ton for the third time. However, the 29-year-old again missed a chance as Aussie speedster Mitchell Starc bowled him out on 79. The innings is the third fifty in the tournament.

After stumps on Day four of the decider, Axar Patel attended a press conference and was asked about the chances he missed to convert the fifties into tons. The spin all-rounder came up with a humorous reply. “You have rubbed salt into the wounds," Patel jokingly said.

We had a good partnership when the team needed it: Axar Patel

“I know the chances I have missed don’t come often. Bade run karne the. Positive is that I batted the way I wanted to and we had a good partnership when the team needed it. I am thinking about what you said, but not thinking too much about it right now. I feel it more when I get back to the room," the 29-year old continued.

In the last two victories of India, Patel played a crucial role with his batting contribution. With 84 and 72 in the first and second Tests respectively, he helped India to take an unassailable lead in the series. Axar also expressed surprise over the conclusion of the first innings of the fourth Test after nearly four full days of the game.

“After the first three matches, everyone said the game ended in three days. Now that the match is going to the fifth day, and you are saying it’s a surprise. It’s not in our hands. We thought we will get some purchase from the wicket but we didn’t. We have to play according to the wicket. We were a little surprised that only the first innings ended in the first four days. We can’t do much and can hope that we come tomorrow and win," Patel concluded.

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