India vs Zimbabwe: We backed our plans, bowlers executed their deliveries well, says Axar Patel

India outplayed Zimbabwe in all three departments of the game to register a 13-run victory and clinched the three-match ODI series 3-0. "We had set a nice total after batting first and Zimbabwe also scored at a nice run rate. We thought we had the match after two-three wickets fell in the middle but the way Sikander Raza batted in the final ten overs, we thought he could take away the game from us.

But we backed our plans. Bowlers executed their balls well, like Avesh Khan delivering his yorkers and Shardul Thakur delivering his slower balls and wide yorkers," said Axar in a post-match press conference. The all-rounder says that he takes his limited chances he gets to play for the country in a positive way.

"I train myself to make the best out of my opportunities," he added. Axar remarked that the crowd support and atmosphere in Harare were such that he felt he was playing in his home state of Gujarat. "When I was in the US playing against West Indies, there were 80-90 per cent Gujaratis in the crowd.

Here as well, they were cheering for me wearing Gujarat Titans shirts. It felt good," he added. About the strategy to bat first in the final ODI, Axar said that some players needed time out in the middle ahead of Asia Cup 2022.

He praised Brad Evans for his brilliant bowling spell. "He bowled good line and length, varied his pace well in death overs," he added.