IND vs ENG, 1st Test: Axar Patel likely to get the nod ahead of Washington Sundar

Team India may be the favorites for the upcoming IND vs ENG Test series. However, the hosts have a few issues to sort out before the start of the first Test in Chennai. The biggest issue is the vacant place of an all-rounder in the team. With Ravindra Jadeja unavailable due to injury, India has to play one among Axar Patel and Washington Sundar in the playing XI. And it seems we have an answer to this question as the latest reports indicate that Indian team management will choose Axar Patel in the team ahead of W Sundar who played a key role in India’s win at Gabba earlier this year.

Axar Patel to get the nod ahead of Sundar according to a source 

A source privy to Team India told an English daily that if the management wants more depth in batting, Washi should get a go. The source explained that Sri Lankan left-arm spinner Lasith Embuldeniya had a lot of success against the England batsmen a week back and this may tempt Team India to go with Axar.  The source noted that a left-arm spinner also brings more control to the proceedings.

Also read: IND vs ENG: Gautam Gambhir picks Indian XI for 1st Test

India to go with 3 spinners and 2 pacers

It is almost a certainty that Team India will go with 5 bowlers in the first Test. India played 5 bowlers in the last 3 Tests against Australia and the results were fantastic.

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So India will play 5 bowlers in the team and the look of the Chennai pitch suggests that it will aid spinners. Thus, India will opt for 3 spinners. R Ashwin will lead the spin attack and Kuldeep Yadav would be the second spinner.

For the third spinner, India will want to look at someone who also provides a better batting option. Although Sundar and Axar both are decent batsmen, the fact that Axar is a left-arm spinner could help him get a place in India’s playing XI for the India vs England Test series.

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