Ambati Rayudu voiced criticism of India’s team management for placing Axar Patel in the No.5 spot during a challenging run chase in the second ODI against New Zealand in Wellington, which ultimately backfired as Patel was dismissed for 7 off 17 deliveries.
Wet outfield delays toss and cuts match to 47 overs
India had bowled New Zealand out for 134 in 41 overs after Shubman Gill chose to field in overcast conditions. Gurnoor Brar took a career-best 4 for 30 in the innings. The match was trimmed to 47 overs a side after a wet outfield delayed the toss by an hour. The target of 135 looked routine until New Zealand’s seamers found movement.
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Seamers dismantled the top order with Jacob Duffy taking two quick wickets. Duffy had Shubman Gill caught behind for a golden duck and removed Virat Kohli for 7. Kyle Jamieson accounted for Rohit Sharma (23) in the ninth over. With the ball still seaming and the field up, Axar Patel walked in at No.5 when India were 39 for 3.
Wrist spinners dominate middle order
Axar Patel survived 17 balls for seven runs. He tried to carve a short ball from Matthew Fisher over third man in the 13th over but failed to clear the fielder, and Duffy took the catch. India were reduced to 47 for 4 in 12.5 overs as KL Rahul walked in to a tricky situation. The team eventually won as rain arrived with India 113 for 7 in 26 overs, leaving them four runs ahead of the DLS par score.
Former India spinner Murali Kartik also questioned the selection. He believes that if Axar Patel comes at No.5, he must be used as a free-flowing floater rather than someone holding one end. Kartik noted that the message should be to have a go at everything and upset the bowlers, not to apply himself in such conditions. He added that if the all-rounder is sent in at that position, it must be with a brief to throw the bowlers off guard, perhaps by getting a quick-fire 15-20 runs before getting out.
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Rayudu questioned why Axar Patel was sent out to bat in such a critical batting position in tough conditions. He suggested the left-handed batter is better suited to the lower middle-order and proposed Ishan Kishan or Naman Dhir for the No.5 slot. Rayudu stated that Axar can do a job at No.6 or No.7 but needs a proper batter to bat along with Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul.
Struggles at five continue for all-rounder
Axar Patel had featured at No.5 in the first ODI in Auckland as well, but was dismissed for a two-ball duck. He has held the No.5 slot in white-ball cricket since early 2025 when India needed a left-handed batter to tackle spin in the middle order. He made 42 batting at five in India’s Champions Trophy win over New Zealand in Dubai.
