As India prepares for the upcoming Test series against Bangladesh, starting on September 19 in Chennai, a lot of discussions are focused on the team’s playing XI. Reports suggest that the team management is thinking about a surprising move. It seems that captain Rohit Sharma and coach Gautam Gambhir may leave Axar Patel out of the squad for the first Test, which could change the team’s strategy.
India recently beat England 4-1 in March and will continue their World Test Championship (WTC) journey at home. After the Bangladesh series, they face New Zealand and then head to Australia for an important tour. The team has been working hard in Chennai, with the coaching staff closely monitoring their preparations.
While Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja are expected to play, the choice for the third spinner is still uncertain. Despite Axar Patel’s recent good form and strong Test record, there are reports that he might sit out the first match.
Kuldeep Yadav Likely to Join Ashwin and Jadeja
There are rumors that Kuldeep Yadav might be chosen as the third spinner. His left-arm wrist spin would bring a different variety compared to the finger spin of Ashwin, Jadeja, and Axar. The team management seems to want to add variety to their bowling attack.
Even though Axar might be left out, this decision would not be taken lightly. He recently performed well in the Duleep Trophy, scoring 86 and 28 for India D against India C. In 14 Tests, he has scored 646 runs at an average of over 35 and taken 55 wickets with an excellent average of 19.34. His all-round contributions have been crucial for India in recent times.
It seems the team management wants to balance the batting and bowling options. They’ve been experimenting with part-time bowlers, something we’ve seen more often in limited-overs matches under Gambhir’s guidance. For example, opener Yashasvi Jaiswal has been practicing leg-breaks, hinting at this new strategy.
