Axar Patel : ‘I don’t like to be called daring…

In a candid interview with The Indian Express, India’s left‐arm spinning all‐rounder Axar Patel made a statement that’s worth more than just a sound bite:

“Not daring, I don’t like that word. Confidence is my thing.”
He explained further:
“Daring is like tukka (freak luck). … I am not like that. I prepare so well that I am confident.”

This quote offers a window into his mindset—how he views his role, how he approaches his craft, and how he handles pressure. In this blog, we’ll explore three key takeaways from his interview, reflect on what they mean for sport (and beyond), and extract lessons that anyone can apply.

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1. Preparing to be confident, not spontaneous

Axar draws a clear distinction: confidence vs daring.

• He describes “daring” as risky, unpredictable: an action taken with 50-50 odds—“laga toh laga” (if it happens, it happens).

• His preferred route is preparation. “I prepare so well that I am confident.”

• Examples: He studies batsmen: “I don’t like to be surprised. … I watch videos. I look at what the performance-analyst sends. … Tomorrow I don’t want to be surprised.”

Why this matters:
In high-stakes sport, as in many high-stakes endeavors, relying on instinct alone is a risk. What separates good performers from elite ones is often the groundwork: the hours of study, the self-awareness, the preparation for what might happen.

Application beyond cricket:

• Whether you’re presenting to a client, taking an exam, delivering in a team meeting — preparation reduces the unknowns, gives you choices in the moment.

• It builds what I’d call active calm: you’re not passive or just happy when things go “your way”. You’ve done the work so you trust your tools.

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2. Staying relaxed to perform under pressure

Another interesting nuance: Axar talks about his mindset pre-game:

“When we are batting … I see 5 overs. In T20, I see one or two overs … I don’t watch at the start … Mostly I will be taking my mind off the game. I joke around with my team-mates. … I like to be relaxed and then when I go out there, I react in the moment.”

He isn’t about hyper-tension or anxious focus; he chooses to keep it light, stay himself.

Why this is insightful:
When we over-invest emotionally in a moment (thinking about all the “what ifs”), we can paralyse ourselves. Axar’s approach: prepare the material, but outside of that, don’t let the moment dominate your mental space until you actually need to act.

Takeaway for any field:

• It’s okay (and beneficial) to step back, breathe, engage in lighter conversation, stay human. When your turn comes, you’ll be ready.

• Build routines: know when you prepare, when you perform. Keeping those separate helps manage stress.

• Look at your “in-game” moments: how many of them do you approach with tension vs calm? It might be time to reframe.

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3. Challenging external perceptions & focusing on what matters

A secondary but powerful thread in the interview: Axar’s comments about captaincy and leadership perceptions:

“People start saying ‘oh he is not captaincy material, he doesn’t speak English. How will he talk?’”
He pushes back:
“Captain’s work is … to know the player and see how to get the best out of him… But yeah if we say ‘personality’ chahiye, acha English bolna chahiye – that’s a perception made by the public based on their own thinking.”

Why this matters:
Beyond the field, many of us face (or project) limiting beliefs: “I’m not extroverted enough”, “I don’t speak well”, “I don’t match the model”. Axar’s view: Results and understanding matter more than the external gloss.

Practical insight:

• Focus on substance over style. Being effective in your role is more important than ticking boxes of “how a leader should look”.

• If you’re being assessed or judging yourself by superficial markers, ask: “Is this relevant to the performance?”

• In times when you’re taking on a bigger role (project lead, team lead, new responsibility), say: “What do I need to do? What does the role demand?” — not “Do I look the part?”

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Final thoughts

Axar Patel may be in the spotlight because of his performances for the Indian Cricket Team and the Delhi Capitals, but his mindset in this interview speaks to far more than cricket. It’s about how you approach your work, how you stay grounded, how you respond under pressure, and how you respect the craft.

In his words:

“Kaam karo, aur niklo chup-chaap.” — Do your work, and quietly get on with it