Team India all-rounder Axar Patel disagreed with the fact that he was fired up and wanted to prove a point after being dropped from the T20I and Test squad for the South Africa tour. After scalping 3/16 in the fourth T20I in Raipur against Australia, Axar added that he bowled normally, like in the previous three T20Is.

However, the BCCI selectors, on Thursday, November 30, announced the squads for the upcoming series against South Africa, which will see India playing three ODIs, three T20Is, and two Tests. And, Axar Patel was only picked for the ODI team.

At a post-match press conference after India’s 20-run win in Raipur, the all-rounder said, “These things [selection] are not in my hand. It’s not like my name is not there, so I am fired up. It could be the opposite as well. If I had gone for a few, people would have said I was upset. It works both ways. Nothing like that, I was normal. Obviously, Jaddu bhai [Ravindra Jadeja] is coming back, so I was replaced.

See also: Axar Patel comments on missing out on the 2023 World Cup due to injury

Axar Patel knocks the stumps again! ⚡️⚡️

This time it's Ben McDermott who has to depart. #TeamIndia | #INDvAUS | @IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/RNVWR84dIn

— BCCI (@BCCI) December 1, 2023

“There was nothing of that sort in my mind that I am not in that team, so I have to prove myself. The decision is up to the selectors. I followed what I was doing in the first three matches. I am happy to get among the wickets,” Axar Patel further added.

However, the left-arm spinner dismissed Travis Head, Aaron Hardie, and Ben McDermott as Australia managed 154/7 in the fourth T20I after being set a target of 175.

“Planning was the same. There was dew in the first three games, so was bowling back of length a bit. There wasn’t much dew here, ball was a bit dry, so we got a chance to give the ball some air as the seam wasn’t as wet. That was a plus point. There was some grass on the pitch, so some balls were skidding and some were stopping. They [Australian batters] found it a bit difficult,” he concluded.