Mumbai: When you are on the verge of being selected to represent Team India with a clear goal to defend the World Cup, every moment leading to the big announcement seems like eternity. Young Axar currently part of the Test squad in Australia had his fingers crossed on Tuesday and back home in Nadiad, his father Rajesh Patel too was equally nervous.
Glued to the television set and wildly tapping at the remote, the Patel household erupted in joy when board secretary Sanjay Patel announced his name in the 15. “We were all edgy. Axar had told me to inform him about the squad as soon as I find out and I had told him to update me if he would get the news before me,” Axar’s emotional father informed this newspaper.
When the news of his selection finally arrived, the phone was hijacked by friends and relatives, who stormed their house with congratulatory messages. “We had a huge crowd and I could barely talk for a minute as everyone wanted to wish him. I will now have to wait to talk to him at length, but it is a proud moment that I am now known not by my first name but as Axar’s father.”
Just 20, Axar, who was mulling giving up cricket to focus on becoming an engineer, is now the youngest member of the Indian squad. “It is unbelievable that just within six months of playing for India; my son has been named in the World Cup squad. It was always a dream to see him play in the World Cup, which has now been fulfilled.”
