The unassuming guy from Nadiad scored a swashbuckling 79 (5×4, 4×6) to pressure India forward at the fourth and ultimate day. It used to be his 162-run partnership with Virat Kohli that dented Australias hopes.
Following the day’s play, Patel printed that he had labored on sure technical sides of his batting heading into the sequence.
“When we started with the camp in Nagpur, we knew we would be playing on turning tracks. I didn’t prepare or plan much but did my own study for playing on spinning tracks. I just prepared myself to stand on the leg-stump to keep a check on the possible LBWs and stumpings that can happen on turning tracks. I also planned not to step out much against off-spinners. I was getting myself ready for these things before the series started,” said Patel, who has scores 74, 84 to his credit before his performance on Sunday.
The 29-year-old was upset about missing out on a maiden Test hundred after coming so close to achieving it.
“You have rubbed salt into my wounds,” he quipped with amusing. “The method I used to be batting…and I do know the possibilities I’ve overlooked do not come frequently. Bade run karne the (sought after to attain large). Positive is that I batted the best way I sought after to, and we had a excellent partnership when the workforce wanted it. I will be able to really feel it extra (disillusioned) when I am getting again to the room,” he mentioned.
That mentioned, such is the contest for puts within the Indian XI that Patel, in spite of a string of constant performances, is not positive of creating the reduce for the World Test Championship ultimate, if Rohit Sharma and Co. makeit.
“It’s now not in my fingers and I will be able to’t do the rest about it. I’m acting within the possibilities I get and am that specialize in what is in my fingers. The trainer and captain make a decision the taking part in XI and my activity is to accomplish constantly and earn that position within the XI,” he mentioned.
With India ahead in the game, Patel reckons getting early wickets will be the key on the final day.
“It’s cricket. Anything can happen anytime. If we get two-three wickets early tomorrow, they might play defensively under pressure. The pitch is not like the way it was in the first three matches, so we just can’t go and run over them. You have to work hard and remain patient and keep bowling in the right areas,” he mentioned.
(AI pictures)