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India all-rounder Axar Patel has suggested that he is not taking too much pressure as far as his selection for the upcoming T20 World Cup is concerned. Axar shone with the ball on Thursday as India defeated Afghanistan by six wickets in the first T20I in Mohali. He struck in back-to-back overs, getting Rahmanullah Gurbaz stumped in the eighth and then cleaned up debutant Rahmat Shah (0) in his next over. With India scheduled to play just two T20Is before the World Cup, Axar said he’s not thinking about his selection as he doesn’t want to put an extra bit of pressure on himself.
“Obviously, we have just 2 more games and then there is IPL in place. But I’m not thinking that way. It’s a World Cup Year, the competition is there but it’s up to you how to take it. But most importantly, you need to stick to the process. So, there is this Test series and then IPL before the World Cup. So, I’m not thinking too about it and keeping myself away from the selection pressure,” Axar said at the post-match press conference.
Axar, however, insisted that he is capable of doing anything, and had a wry smile on his face.
“Aapne mera record dekha hoga, kuch bhi kar sakta hoon main (You must have seen my record, I can do anything). So, not thinking too far as of now,” he added.
Coming back to the match, Shivam Dube defied bitterly cold weather to hit an unbeaten half-century and take one wicket as India eased to a comfortable win over Afghanistan in the first Twenty20 international on Thursday.
Dube, a left-handed batsman, made 60 off 40 balls for his second T20 fifty as India chased down their victory target of 159 with 15 balls and six wickets to spare at Mohali.
India lead the three-match series 1-0 as they prepare for the T20 World Cup in June.
The second T20I will be played in Sunday in Indore.
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