Harbhajan Singh, the legendary Indian spinner, has voiced his worries regarding the injury of all-rounder Axar Patel ahead of the crucial T20 World Cup. During the first T20I match against New Zealand in Nagpur, Patel suffered a setback when he was struck on the finger while attempting to stop a delivery from Daryl Mitchell. The injury left him in visible pain, necessitating his exit from the game for medical attention. Consequently, Abhishek Sharma was called upon to complete the remaining deliveries of Patel’s over.
Reflecting on the situation, Harbhajan expressed his hope that the injury is not severe and that Patel can recover promptly to participate in the T20 World Cup. “I am concerned about one thing. Axar Patel suffered an injury to his finger, and I hope that it is not a serious injury and that he recovers soon. I sincerely hope that he does not miss the World Cup for this reason, because we will need him. He is a crucial player for us,” Harbhajan remarked on his YouTube channel.
In addition to discussing Patel’s injury, Harbhajan showed confidence in India’s prospects in the ongoing five-match T20 series against New Zealand. “The way Team India are playing, I have no doubt that they will win this series. India smashed 238 for 7 in 20 overs – yes, you heard that right. This is the new way Team India goes about its game and simply smashes opponents. 239 is such a big target; how could New Zealand have even tried to chase it down?” he said, praising the team’s performance.
The Indian team has taken a 1-0 lead in the series following an impressive 48-run victory in the first match. Abhishek Sharma was a standout performer, scoring a remarkable 84 runs off just 35 balls, featuring eight sixes and five boundaries. New Zealand, despite a solid effort from Glenn Phillips, who scored 78 runs off 40 balls, could only reach 190 for 7 in response.
As the series progresses, fans and former players alike will be hoping for a swift recovery for Axar Patel and continued strong performances from the Indian team.