I don't think of Ravindra Jadeja as my competition: Axar Patel

Axar Patel loves the IPL. The tournament, more specifically Kings XI Punjab (KXIP), provided him a springboard to launch his career at the highest level. And, he did grab it with both hands.

Last year this time around, Patel was hoping to get a game in a franchise comprising the Sehwags, the Maxwells and the Johnsons of the world. He got one, and became one of KXIP's biggest success stories, picking up 17 wickets in 17 matches. The all-rounder has since played 13 ODIs for India and dismissed 16 batsmen, and has been part of India's World Cup squad. A year older and wiser, the 21-year-old can't wait to do an encore of 2014 for the Kings.

“I want to carry the same confidence this season that I had in the first one,” Patel told dna on Saturday from Pune, where KXIP are training. “I bowled well, bowled a lot of dot balls, took a lot of wickets and did well. But I don't want to get overconfident thinking that I've done all this before so it should be easy this time. I concentrated on the basics in my first season and was bowling to my strengths. I want to repeat the same things again,” the left-arm spinner added.

For the record, Patel bowled the most number of dot balls (157) – considered gold in the shortest format – last season along with Sunil Narine and had the second-best economy rate (6.13) after Rajasthan Royals' Ankit Sharma.

Does he anticipate what the batsman will do, or simply backs his strength of bowling a tight line consistently?

“You have to anticipate what the batsman will do. I think of what he did in the previous over, what is going on in his mind. I have to think like a batsman and what he is most likely going to do now. If I bowl six balls in the same area, the batsman will also start anticipating. It's a mind game. Bowling tight is my strength, no doubt. I keep the batsman quiet. But I also try and anticipate what that particular batsman will do next. That's why I'm successful,” said.

Immediate comparisons were drawn to Ravindra Jadeja, a left-arm spinner who also relies on accuracy for wickets. Patel replaced the injured Jadeja for the tri-series in Australia and picked up two wickets in four matches.

“Yes, I get compared (to Jadeja). But I don't think of Jadeja as my competition. We both don't play as competitors. We're from the same state (In fact, Patel plays for Gujarat and Jadeja, for Saurashtra in domestic cricket). Our camaraderie is great. His style is different from mine. I often speak to him about what he can do in a particular situation, and what I can do. We keep talking to each other, keep learning from each other,” Patel said.

Jadeja was fit for the World Cup, which meant Patel had to sit out throughout India's campaign. However, the young lad asserted that he has come back as a better cricketer.

“So what if I didn't get a game?” he said. “I continued to back myself. I went with the mindset of learning as much as I can. I have tried to better myself by playing on those Australian pitches. I've learnt a lot about my batting technique playing in those conditions. I didn't get a game, but I've come back as a better cricketer.

“Mahi bhai (MS Dhoni), Suresh Raina, Rohit (Sharma) are all big players and I learnt a lot from them. I applied myself on the basis of what suits me the best. Their game is different, my game is different. For example, I will bat according to the style that I'm used to and what suits me the best. But overall, the four-five weeks that I spent there with the squad will help me immensely for KXIP in the coming season and in the future,” he added.

Patel is excited to play with the same bunch of guys again in the IPL, and working under his Team India coaches Sanjay Bangar and R Sridhar.

“The comfort level increases. I've learnt a lot from them during my time in the Indian team. So it adds to your confidence that they're there in KXIP as well. I can talk to them more, learn more,” he said.
And he is hungry for more.

“I want to replicate what I did last year, and even try and do better. I want to compete with myself,” he said.

N ZONE

157
No. of dot balls Patel bowled out of his 66 overs in IPL last season, but most by any bowler

2
No. of maiden overs bowled by Patel last season, joint-highest with Sandeep Sharma and Ishwar Pandey

6.13
Patel's overall economy rate last season, second best after Rajasthan Royals' Ankit Sharma (5.37)

Patel in IPL 2014
M    Runs scored    Wkts    Best    Econ    SR
17    62    17    3/24    6.13    23.29

Patel in ODIs
M    Runs scored    Wkts    Best    Econ    SR
13    41    16    3/40    4.41    34.0