“After the T20 World Cup final, I never thought I would be dropped.”

Team India’s all-rounder Axar Patel made a huge remark ahead of the crucial next two months, in the run-up to the T20 World Cup 2026. Having played a vital role in India’s sensational T20 World Cup in 2024, the southpaw stated that he believes he will never be dropped after the final.

Axar played a lively hand of 47 off 31 deliveries to propel the Men in Blue to a 176-win total in the Championship decider. When he came into bat in the fifth over of the innings, he installed a 72-run stand with Virat Kohli after losing three wickets early. The knock consisted of four sixes, which helped India seize the momentum.

When asked if the innings in the final helped him come out of Ravindra Jadeja’s shadow, Axar told The Times of India:

“Absolutely. Since then or just before the T20 World Cup, I have never been looked at as an alternative to Jadu bhai. A place was created for me. Jadu bhai and I started playing together. I was never competing with Jadu bhai. When I used to practice, I used to think what can I add to my game so that they can never drop me. After the T20 World Cup final, I never thought of being dropped.”

The all-rounder credited former captain MS Dhoni for allowing him to believe that he was a capable batsman, explaining:

“I started as a batsman but became a full-time player when I reached the NCA. In my initial days I did not do well with the bat and started doubting myself. When I stopped in 2018, I worked hard on my batting. When MS Dhoni was the mentor of the 2021 WC team, he told me that in my initial days, under him, I was putting pressure on myself by thinking that I should bowl all the time, instead of just believing that I am capable of it. Slowly I started implementing what Mahi bhai told me.” I regained my confidence.

With India having not lost a T20I series since the previous World Cup, the 31-year-old played a vital role in that. Axar can not only play the powerplay, but can also bowl at the death, and is capable of taking wickets along with performing the holding role.

“When I step out to bat, I don’t think I’m floating” – Axar Patel on his role in the India national team

When asked about his role in a flexible line-up, Axar said that he always trusts himself to be a proper batsman and do his job methodically rather than batting blindly. He explained:

“If I am sent with the order, it means the team trusts me and I have the talent to play that role. When I go out to bat, I don’t think I am a floater. The team management told me that I was not sent to blindly speed up the scoring or play a difficult spell or target a particular fielder. I have been given a role like any other specialist batsman.”

The Gujarat-born cricketer also emphasized that he was a fun-loving person by nature but gave it up completely when work needed to be done. He added:

“My nature is to be a fun-loving guy, but when you are a top player or in a leadership group, you have to set boundaries. I believe in maintaining a fun environment but it should not happen that people around you take it for granted. On the ground, it is serious work. Yes, I enjoy the interviews but my teammates also know when there is work, I take it seriously.”

India’s T20I series against New Zealand begins on January 21. The World Champions Cup campaign begins on February 7 against the United States of America.