Australia bounced back with an impressive display against India in the second Test match, thanks in part to Usman Khawaja and Peter Handscomb’s stellar performances with the bat. The visitors put early pressure on the Indian team, with veteran spinner Nathan Lyon’s five-wicket haul compounding the hosts’ woes.
Despite the uphill battle, Indian batter Axar Patel put on a valiant display, scoring 74 runs off 115 balls and providing much-needed hope for the struggling side. Patel’s performance was crucial for India on Day 2, particularly after his impressive showing in the first Test match, where he scored 84 runs in India’s victory over Australia.
In a post-match interview with NDTV, Patel credited his recent success with the bat to legendary Australian batter Ricky Ponting, with whom he had discussed ways to improve his batting during his time with the Delhi Capitals.
“I felt I was not realizing my potential in my 30s and 40s. I was not able to finish the game,” Patel explained. “So, it was a lot about the mindset. Sometimes you can relax as an all-rounder if you have taken wickets, you could get casual. So I thought I could improve on that and convert my 30s and 40s into match-winning scores. That is how I think now and that has made a big difference.”
After his impressive showing with the bat, Patel will look to make an impact with his bowling as well, as India aims to gain an advantage over Australia in the ongoing Test series. As the second Test match progresses, the visitors lost an early wicket towards the end of Day 2 after Usman Khawaja failed to make a significant impact in the second innings.
