India might prefer Axar Patel over Kuldeep Yadav - Deep Dasgupta

Former Indian cricketer, Deep Dasgupta believes that India might go in with Axar Patel, ahead of Kuldeep Yadav in the second Test against England at Chennai. Axar Patel was India’s first choice spinner to partner Ravichandran Ashwin for the first Test but he picked up an injury and was ruled out of the match. With him injured, many of the experts were of the opinion that Kuldeep Yadav would play the first Test but Virat Kohli instead went for Shahbaz Nadeem, a player who wasn’t even in the initial squad.

Advertisment

Virat Kohli later went on to clarify that Kuldeep Yadav would have made the Indian attack look one dimensional. Nadeem had a horrible outing and went for 233 runs at an economy of over 4. Post his miserable performance, there is a high possibility that India might look to replace him with one of Kuldeep Yadav or Axar Patel, with the latter being the prime contender. 

"Honestly, with how Shahbaz bowled in the last Test match, I think there will be a replacement. Axar could be a very, very good choice and so will Kuldeep but I think Axar because left-arm orthodox spinner brings in more control, that's the reason why he might be preferred and it's a straight swap, Axar coming in for Nadeem (both are left-arm spinners). I don't see both of them playing together, and I guess Axar will be a choice," Replied Deep Dasgupta, answering a fan on Sports Today.

Axar Patel is yet to make his Test debut while Kuldeep Yadav has represented India in 6 Tests, picking up 24 wickets  at an economy of 3.51, including 2 five-wicket hauls.