The 1999 World Cup player of the tournament said Pandya has a fine support system to hone him.
Kings XI Punjab spinner Axar Patel knows he can be predictable after a couple of seasons at the highest level and that is why he will be seen tossing up the odd ball during the upcoming IPL and not rely only on flatter deliveries. "You expect top batsmen to read you well after two three seasons at this level and that is why I felt the need to add more variety to my bowling. I am tossing up the odd ball in training but it doesn't mean I will only do that. I will continue bowling the flatters ones and try to mix it with the odd flighted ball," Patel told PTI from Mohali where he is training alongside his Kings XI Punjab teammates. The season starting on April 9 is crucial for Patel, who has been sidelined from the Indian team after the return of senior pro Ravindra Jadeja and another left-arm spinner Pawan Negi getting the selectors' nod over him for the recently concluded World T20. Though the 22-year-old was part of India's 50-over squad in Australia, he did not get a game and last played for the country in October. But the spinner, who is often criticised for not turning the ball enough, is not perturbed by the selectors' snub.
Former India captain Kapil Dev on Wednesday lauded Yuvraj Singh's inclusion in the Indian T20 team terming him as a 'crowdpuller like John McEnroe'.
Left-arm spinner Axar Patel has taken Sunil Gavaskar's stinging criticism in his stride and says he is determined to prove the former India captain wrong with consistent performances, starting with the five-match ODI series in Australia next month.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni feels that the trio of Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Shami and Mohit Sharma should not be forced to play domestic games.
Pawan Negi, who became a household name for his whopping Rs 8.5 crore ($1.25 million) bid, has been released by Delhi Daredevils along with five other players for the upcoming season of the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Mahendra Singh Dhoni is not a part of the three-match T20I series against West Indies and Australia presenting Rishabh Pant with a golden chance to consolidate his place in limited overs cricket.
A summary of sports events and sports persons, who made news on Sunday
Vijay Shankar is dealing with as he tries to move on from a "disheartening" off day that nearly cost India the Nidahas Trophy final against Bangladesh.
Pacer Mukesh Kumar took six wickets to help Bengal beat Karnataka by 174 runs and enter the final of the Ranji Trophy for the first time in 13 years, in Kolkata, on Tuesday. Chasing 352 for victory, Karnataka were bowled out for 177 in their second innings with Mukesh taking 6-61 in 21 overs, while Ishan Porel and Akash Deep took two wickets each.
Ravichandran Ashwin feels 'adaptability' has been the key to success for spinners Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav in the first two ODIs in South Africa.
Premier off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin will be in focus alongside speedster Mohammed Shami when defending champions India take on New Zealand on Sunday in their opening warm-up game ahead of the Champions Trophy in London.
Overwhelmed by 'surreal' bidding for him during the Indian Premier League auction, it took Jaydev Unadkat some time to believe that franchises were so willing to break their banks to grab a fast bowler.
Chahal, who has been an automatic choice in the limited overs format has not played any first-class cricket since December 2016 (against Haryana in Ranji Trophy), but the Indian team management and especially skipper Virat Kohli has indicated that he wants the wiry leg-spinner for five-day matches also.
Sanju Samson replaced Virat Kohli for the three-match T20I series against Bangladesh, while Mumbai all-rounder Shivam Dube earned his maiden call-up to the Indian team.
Mayank Agarwal blasted 162 to help Karnataka demolish Andhra Pradesh in a South Zone match of the Vijay Hazare National One Day Championships in Secunderabad, on Friday.
Manish Pandey says his maiden ODI call-up was long overdue and he now hopes to make his much awaited India debut during the short tour of Zimbabwe next month.
'It helps me get into a mindset that I have nothing to lose and play accordingly.'
During the ICC Cricket World Cup that was played Down Under, last year, Mohammed Shami was the pick of the Indian bowlers.
Rohit Sharma carried his bat, scoring 83 not out, while putting on two good partnerships. He first stitched a 61-run partnership with Dhawan at the top of the order and then joined hands with Dhoni to see India through.
India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, on Monday, described Virat Kohli as a captain with a fierce winning mentality and said that his positive body language always rubbed on the other players.
Veterans Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir's prospects of making an India comeback are all but over as the celebrated opening duo stayed away from selection in the 15-member North Zone squad for the Deodhar Trophy.
Railways leg-spinner Karn Sharma is ecstatic after his maiden call-up in the Indian Test team and is looking forward towards a chance to meet the legendary leg-spinner Shane Warne during the upcoming Test series against Australia Down Under.
I am planning to practice against the wet tennis balls from 18 yards and also with plastic ball on concrete pitches to reduce my reaction time for strokes, said India's latest batting sensation, Lokesh Rahul.
Karnataka cricketers, who have been picked in India and India 'A' squads, want to make the most of the opportunity.
Sachin Tendulkar will sign off from cricket after 24 glorious years in the second Test against the West Indies, starting at the Wankhede stadium, in Mumbai, on Thursday. Going into the match, his 200th Test, the batting icon has 15,847 runs, the most by a batsman. Rajneesh Gupta looks at his record at the Wankhede stadium.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India on Thursday announced five new Test venues as Rajkot, Vizag, Pune, Dharamsala, Ranchi and Indore were named as hosts for the first time, for the forthcoming season where India will be playing thirteen Test matches, eight One-Day Internationals, and three T20 Internationals.
Should India play an extra fast bowler in Dharamsala where the pitches suit pacers?
India and Gujarat left-arm spinner Axar Patel acknowledged RP Singh that veteran pacer Singh's presence in the Gujarat dressing room for the past two years played a big role in the team's development.
'The future of finger-spinners lies in the perception of people'
'I will get an opportunity to talk about my game with big stars like Ben Stokes, Steve Smith, Jos Buttler.' 'I hope to learn a few things from them and I am confident of doing well,' says the top-scorer in the Under-19 World Cup who will play for the Rajasthan Royals this IPL.
Madhya Pradesh wicketkeeper-batsman Naman ojha is "not surprised" by his inclusion in India's 19-member Test squad for the tour of Australia. After all, he's been in his stupendous form with the bat in the past 12 months.
Do you feel Dhoni should bring in all-rounder Dhawan for Jadeja, or strengthen the pace attack by playing Ishant? Select your Indian team for the second match against Australia, in Brisbane, on Friday, January 15.
From working as a labourer on a daily wage of Rs 60 to fetching an Indian Premier League contract worth Rs 20 lakh, Jammu and Kashmir batsman Manzoor Dar has covered a distance more awe-inspiring than the 100-metre sixes he is known for.
Left-arm spinner Axar Patel on Saturday wreaked havoc recording a career-best List A figures of six for 43 as Gujarat beat Tamil Nadu by 31 runs to set up a title clash with Gautam Gambhir-led Delhi in the final of the Vijay Hazare Trophy One-Day tournament.
Back in form with an impressive performance against South Africa in the recently-concluded Test series, Ravindra Jadeja is likely to make a comeback when the national selectors meet in New Delhi on Saturday.
Just like it happens with most of the seasoned domestic warhorses, 30-year-old Faiz Fazal had also stopped expecting to break through into the national squad but now that he has earned his maiden India call-up, "the world seemed like a much beautiful place" for the Vidarbha left-hander.
They endured a disastrous run the last time around to finish at the bottom of the heap and Kings XI Punjab would be aiming to make amends this season when they begin their campaign against newbies Gujarat Lions in their IPL opener in Mohali on Monday. Kings XI Punjab did not make any big buys this year and have a new captain in South African David Miller in place of Australian George Bailey who was released after leading the side to the last place in the previous season. Virender Sehwag has also retired and he will serve as team mentor this season. The Preity Zinta-owned side continues to lack the team balance as it has not added any significant player, only snapping the likes of all-rounders Farhaan Behardien and Marcus Stoinis, seamer Mohit Sharma and left-arm spinner Swapnil Singh. Last season, their batsmen lacked consistency and whenever they did well, the bowlers let the side down. On the other hand, debutants Gujarat Lions have a balanced side with top-class performers in both batting and bowling. They have explosive batsmen in Brendon McCullum, captain Suresh Raina, Aaron Finch and a plenty of top-notch all-rounders in Dwayne Bravo, Ravindra Jadeja and James Faulkner.
Manish Pandey's scintillating century and leg-spinner Shreyas Gopal's sterling bowling effort helped Ranji champions Karnataka retain the Irani Trophy after beating Rest of India by a massive 246 runs on the fourth and penultimate day in Bangalore.
Gautam Gambhir was on Saturday handed a suspended four-match ban from first-class cricket for his ugly confrontation with Delhi Ranji coach KP Bhaskar earlier this year, a punishment he said will abide by.
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