Axar Patel, R Ashwin primary pairing; Kuldeep Yadav or Rahul Chahar could claim 3rd spinner’s spot: Report

KEY STORY

• Indian spinners came into the spotlight after a disappointing show in the first Test against England in Chennai. While Ravichandran Ashwin looked to lead from the front, he didn’t quite get the support form the likes of Shahbaz Nadeem and Washington Sundar.

• With the second Test also scheduled to take place at the same venue, although on a different strip, as many as two changes could be made in the spin-bowling unit itself.

• India skipper Virat Kohli was open in his criticism of Sundar and Nadeem both of whom didn’t bowl good enough to put pressure on England batsman. While Nadeem is all but certain to be benched from the squad for the second Test, Sundar might also make way despite his impressive contribution with the bat in the series opener.

• Axar Patel, another bowling all-rounder like Sundar, missed out from the first Test due to an injury issue but has been declared fit to play.

• If he is selected in the team, Sundar might have to make way having gone wicketless in the first Test despite being the second-highest scorer with the bat for India in the match.

• “His primary job is to bowl off-spin where he was a bit of a letdown. If Axar comes in, he can bat at No. 7 and the management may look to try a wrist-spinner,” a source told the Times of India.

• As per a report in TOI, the availability of Axar could tempt Kohli to field a wrist-spinner in the playing XI. The choice would be between Kuldeep Yadav and Rahul Chahar, though the public sentiment is in favour of the former getting the nod.

CONCLUSION

• “While Kuldeep will bring the ball in to the right-hander, Chahar will take it away. It will be entirely Virat’s call who he thinks is the right fit,” the source further explained.

• While there’s no doubting that the decision to drop Sundar would be a little harsh based on his bowling performance in just one match, Axar also offers a similar skill set, and hence, the inclusion of a wrist-spinner might be more suitable for the balance of the team.

• The final verdict remains in the hands of the Indian team management, the coach and the captain. The likes of Kuldeep, Axar, Sundar and Chahar all have a few net sessions to compete with each other and prove why they deserve to be included in the team.