Axar Patel has struggled with the bat in 2026. Image Credits: X
Axar Patel’s batting returns have reached a point where they are concerning. In T20s, his performances have indeed been shockingly underwhelming for a while.
Axar has 223 runs at an abysmal average of 14.86 and a strike rate of 119.89 in 18 T20 innings, with a best of 56, in 2026. He takes around 7.44 deliveries for every boundary.
Axar Patel’s batting issues in 2026
Axar Patel has struggled against almost everything as a batter. This year, Axar Patel has struck at just 132.72 and lost his wicket every 12.22 deliveries to pacers.
His balls-per-boundary ratio has been 5.78, and he has played around 31.81% dot balls. Had Axar not played a couple of decent innings at the back end of the IPL season for Delhi Capitals, his numbers would have been even worse.
Axar has never been a pace-hitter, with his expertise lying in taking on the spinners in the middle overs, but he was never as restricted. During his peak, he even found ways to whack fast bowlers down the ground by maintaining his shape.
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The issue, however, is that his regression is not limited to pacers. Even against spin, the all-rounder has struggled massively, with his numbers being even worse.
Overall, Axar Patel has averaged a mere 12.83 and struck at just 101.31 against slow bowlers in 2026. He has been dismissed every 12.66 deliveries and has hit only six boundaries across 76 balls.
Axar Patel has struggled in 2026
Now the problem is that once Axar stops hitting spin, his batting value becomes almost negligible in T20s. Teams can still find a way to work around his pace issues, but his spin problems have almost made him a specialist bowler who can bat a bit at this point.
Axar Patel’s improper usage
Axar Patel’s regression has come at a time when his usage, mostly by the Indian team, has been shockingly poor. This team management has used almost every middle-order batter improperly, and Axar has been among the most affected ones.
Playing for India, Axar has mostly batted too low in the order, mostly at No.8. In 2026, the southpaw has batted seven times for India, six of which have come at No.8.
On average, he has faced only 7.71 deliveries per innings, with the team showing no trust in his abilities. Whenever Axar promoted himself in the IPL, his returns improved drastically, suggesting there’s still enough value in his batting despite recent issues.
However, India have not shown interest in promoting him at any stage, even when there were multiple chances to let him face spin. At the T20 World Cup 2026, they kept Tilak Varma and Shivam Dube ahead of Axar for the whole tournament.
Axar Patel has not been utilised wisely by India
All of that would also have played a role in his poor form, as there is no clarity of role in this setup. His best came under Rahul Dravid, when he was consistently promoted to the middle order, including in the T20 World Cup 2024 final, to hit spinners.
His batting needs work, sure, but this management also needs to use him differently. They can’t delay his entry points as much as they have this year.
Why India need Axar’s batting credentials
Despite recent issues, Axar Patel remains one of the better spin-bowling all-rounders in T20Is. The likes of Washington Sundar haven’t shown enough promise, while India haven’t shown interest in other IPL performers like Krunal Pandya just yet.
Additionally, India’s middle order needs another spin-hitter, particularly since Tilak Varma is simply incapable. Even Shivam Dube can be restricted against spin with negative lines on his pads to block his hitting arc.
Hence, Axar Patel needs to be promoted more often, especially when Tilak and Dube are better equipped against pace. A lot of experiments and changes have resulted in the underutilisation of a crisis man who stepped up with the bat on occasions when India required it the most.
To ask him to play an uncharacteristic role won’t work now, as proven multiple times this year. To extract the best out of him, India need to use him as a floater rather than a support batter in the lower order.
If they indeed want a lower-order hitter, there are other options available, but that would leave them more vulnerable to spin. Axar Patel’s batting returns and poor usage should be taken more seriously now.
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