Axar Patel said that neither the magnitude of the occasion nor the long-standing rivalry against Pakistan had an impact the Indian team during their fixture in the T20 World Cup. Their focus, he revealed, was squarely on planning and execution.
“There’s India’s batting versus Pakistan bowling or whatever – we were not thinking about that. We were just thinking about our plan and our execution when we are batting or bowling. We were just thinking about what we have to do if we are bowling first or bowling second? How was the wicket? So we were thinking about our game,” Axar said.
“We are not thinking about these rivalries or whatever. So we are playing against one team, and we are just focusing on cricket. So whenever I am playing, I am not thinking about others. I treat it as a one-on-one match against an opponent. So I’m not thinking about any rivalry or whatever.”
”Most of the Indian supporters come to support us in the blue jersey. We never think about which country we are playing in. We just think about the wicket on the ground and what is there.
“And yes, people who want to come support us. It feels good. And it is not like that only in Sri Lanka, but when we go to any other country many people come to support us. It is same like this everywhere.”
