3 reasons India should not promote Axar Patel to No. 5 in ODIs

India’s middle-order batting arrangement has attracted considerable debate during the ongoing ODI series against New Zealand. Captain Shubman Gill has confirmed that the top four positions are settled, leaving Nos. 5 and 6 to be shared between Axar Patel and KL Rahul.

The team management, including batting coach Sitanshu Kotak, has defended the decision to field Axar at No. 5, citing the left-right combination advantage and the all-rounder’s prior experience in that slot under head coach Gautam Gambhir. However, the numbers and the context of the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia tell a more complicated story.

Pushing KL Rahul out of his best position

KL Rahul has built one of the most impressive records of any batter at No. 5 in ODI cricket. Across that position, he has accumulated 1,646 runs at an average of 68.58 and a strike rate of 103.19, including four centuries.

Although Axar Patel is a capable lower-order contributor, his record at No. 5 across all ODIs reads 365 runs in 13 innings at an average of 30.41 and a strike rate of 87.11, with no hundreds. Rahul averages more than twice as much at that position and scores approximately 16 runs more per 100 balls. Pushing Rahul down to No. 6 to accommodate Axar means India voluntarily moves their superior No. 5 batter one slot lower, which could affect his rhythm and reduce his overall contribution in matches where the team needs a steady hand early in the middle order.