Axar Patel Admits India Were 'Surprised' by Wankhede Pitch in T20 World Cup Clash Against USA
India's vice-captain Axar Patel has openly confessed that the Indian cricket team was taken aback by the nature of the Wankhede Stadium pitch during their T20 World Cup 2026 opening match against the United States of America. In a tense encounter on Sunday, India found themselves in a precarious position at 77 for 6 before staging a remarkable recovery.
Early Collapse and Strategic Shift
Axar Patel, who played a pivotal role alongside captain Suryakumar Yadav in steadying the innings, revealed that the team had to quickly adapt their game plan. "Generally Mumbai wickets are flat, but this was different. So we changed our plan to reach 140-150," Axar stated in a post-match interview. He elaborated that after just two overs of batting, the players were surprised by the pitch's behavior, which deviated from the typical flat tracks associated with the venue.
The all-rounder explained, "When I went to bat, we thought keep it to 140... then 21 runs came in an over. And later Surya got more." This strategic adjustment proved crucial as India managed to post a competitive total, ultimately securing a victory in a thrilling escape.
USA's Injury Woes and India's Resilience
The match saw the USA suffer a significant setback with the unexpected injury to key bowler Ali Khan. Khan had delivered a brilliant spell, conceding only 13 runs in his first two overs and dismissing Abhishek Sharma for a first-ball duck. However, his inability to bowl his remaining two overs forced the USA to turn to Saurabh Netravalkar, who had a tough day, leaking 21 runs in each of his two overs. This 42-run over proved vital in shifting the momentum towards India.
Reflecting on the early wickets that fell, Axar Patel viewed the collapse as a valuable learning experience. "About those wickets that fell early that's cricket. It's good that this happened in the first match itself. In cricket, understanding the pitch is important. We will be better off for this experience," he remarked, emphasizing the importance of pitch assessment in high-stakes tournaments.
Pitch Insights from Other Players
Mohammad Siraj also commented on the challenging pitch conditions, noting that the ball was stopping on the batsmen. He shared that opener Ishan Kishan had highlighted the issue in the dressing room, describing it as a two-paced pitch. "When Ishan was playing, he said it's a two-paced pitch, and we felt 170 was a good score. That proved to be right," Siraj said, underscoring the team's collective effort in gauging the conditions.
Adaptability Over Style Change
Axar Patel stressed that India's approach was not about abandoning their aggressive style but rather about adaptability. "It's not about changing style. Just that we had to adapt and not hit every ball (for couple of overs there)," he clarified. On his crucial partnership with the in-form Suryakumar Yadav, Axar revealed that discussions with coach Gautam Gambhir focused on taking the game deep. "The chat with [coach Gautam] Gambhir was also about taking it to the last over... to see which bowlers to take on," he added, highlighting the tactical nuances that contributed to their recovery.
This match serves as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of cricket and the importance of quick thinking and teamwork in overcoming adversities on the field.
