I just couldn’t stop crying, was very happy for him: Axar Patel's mother Priti

The quaint town of Nadiad an hourrsquos drive from here seems to have come alive after Axar Patelrsquos 11wicket heroics in the third Test against England That effort was instrumental in India wrapping up the match in just two days at the Narendra Modi Stadium Motera on ThursdayIndiarsquos Axar Patel on Day Two of the third Test against England at Ahmedabad on Thursday PICBCCIFaces lit up as soon as Axarrsquos name is mentioned near his home The attendant at the petrol pump and roadside vendors can tell you where Axar lives ldquoAlmost four to five lakh people live in this town It is a matter of great pride that the people of Nadiad know my house It is all because of my sonrdquo Axarrsquos father Rajesh says his chest swelling with prideChildlike enthusiasmThe second Test highlights can be seen on giant television screen in the living room and Rajeshrsquos eyes light up whenever the camera focuses on his son Rajeshrsquos childlike enthusiasm cannot go unnoticedAxarrsquos mother tells midday that there was a festive atmosphere at the Patel dwelling the previous day when her son ended the Test with 11 wickets to take his series tally to 18 in just two Tests And there were firecrackers when Axar claimed his fifth wicket in the second innings after England wicketkeeper Ben Foakes was trapped LBW ldquoI just couldnrsquot stop crying I was very happy for him He has worked very hard to get to this levelrdquo says Priti her eyes welling upAxarrsquos parents never expected three fivewicket bags and a 10wicket haul in his first two Test matches He was playing the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 tournament when he called his family to inform them of his Test selection ldquoIt has always been his goal to play in all three formats He was keen to perform in the absence of Ravindra Jadejardquo says cousin Sankship Axar started making waves on Gujaratrsquos district circuit but an eye injury almost forced his mother to stop his cricket ldquoHe got hit on the eye while batting when he was 14 during an interschool match I feared for his eyesight I wanted to him discontinue cricket as it was very risky But his father insisted said these things happen and we should allow him to continue with his cricketrdquo says PritiDadrsquos supportRajesh remarks ldquoI was very keen on cricket I played it at district level and it was my wish that my son becomes a cricketer So Axar always had my full supportrdquo Axarrsquos mother though wanted her son to become an engineer His dartstyle bowling is because he started off as a fast bowler before a knee injury forced him to opt for spin Axar invariably turns to his childhood coach and mentor Amrish Patel whenever he wants guidance on his game Whenever Axar is in town he heads to the Kheda District Cricket Ground which is a couple of kilometres from his house to practise and share his experience with youngsters training there When not training his dog Gucci takes away most of his time at homeldquoBefore every match he calls to take our blessingsrdquo his parents reveal The fact that he is still a vegetarian also makes his family proud of him ldquoWhenever he is home he prefers to eat routine food and not his strict diet stuff He is generally six to seven months away from home So whenever he is coming back home he will ask me to prepare chai bhakri He just loves it He will call me from the car itselfrdquo Priti says When Axar was a child his father forced him to eat and write with his right hand Luckily they did not try to tinker with his cricketmdashfrom left to rightNow that he is performing at the international level Axarrsquos mother is keen her son settles down in life And she has received an ldquoinprinciplerdquo permission from Axar to find a girl for him Wedding bells may appear imminent but nothing else is more important than a possible encore in the next Test also at Motera Nadiad and the Patel household couldnrsquot be happier if that happens18No of wickets claimed by Axar Patel in two Tests