Pads pe maro, toe pe, they would tell us: Axar Patel

What did you see yourself as when you started out? Spinner or a batsman?

I started out as a batsman. When I went to the National Cricket Academy during my under-19 days, the coaches there felt that I can become a decent spinner. I never thought I will play for India because of my bowling.

Didn’t you try to learn the nuances of spin bowling, such as loop and flight?

It was not that I didn’t try, M Venkatramana sir and Sunil Joshi made me practice for hours at the NCA. Rope rakh ke do wickets pe bowling karna padta hai. But later, when I tried to give some loop in the air than it always went full toss. I quickly realised what my strengths and weaknesses were. I continued my style of bowling. People still feel that am bit quick, but I can vary my pace.

You come from a small place in Gujarat; did you have someone to guide you?

As I said I was more of a batsman. And in Gujarat we don’t have any four day games. Matches are played on matting pitches. There are T20 games and one dayers. There, if you give too many runs, matlab bowler acha nahi hai. So it all came down to containing. Pads pe maro yar, toe pe, (fire it to the pads, or toes). That’s how cricket is been played at small centres.