Left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav has not been included in India’s playing XI for the first Test of the ongoing five-match series against England. Instead, Axar Patel has been favored for the position.
Having won the toss, England captain Ben Stokes chose to bat first at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad. The veteran pacer James Anderson was excluded from the lineup, and England opted for three spinners, including debutant Tom Hartley.
Virat Kohli withdrew from the first two Tests due to personal reasons. KS Bharat was preferred over Dhruv Jurel for the wicketkeeper position. The opening bowling duties will be shared by Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj, supported by the spin trio of Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, and Axar Patel.
It was a difficult decision to exclude Kuldeep – remarked Rohit Sharma
Addressing the toss, Rohit Sharma acknowledged the challenge of settling on the team’s bowling combination. Sharma emphasized that Axar Patel’s impressive batting performance in Indian conditions played a crucial role in his selection over Kuldeep Yadav.
“We have opted for three spinners and two seamers – Bumrah, Siraj, Axar, Ashwin, and Jadeja. It was a challenging decision (to omit Kuldeep), and we deliberated extensively. Axar, whenever he has been in the playing XI, has performed admirably and showcased strong batting skills in these conditions. He posted a commendable score the last time we faced Australia. That’s likely the reason we chose Axar,” stated Rohit.
Axar Patel made his Test debut in the 2021 home series against England, stepping in for Kuldeep Yadav after India’s loss in the first Test. The left-arm spinner made a significant impact, claiming 27 wickets in six innings and playing a key role in India’s 3-1 series victory.
Since his debut in 2017, Kuldeep has featured in only eight Tests for India. His most recent appearance was in the opening Test of the 2022 Bangladesh series, where he impressively took eight wickets. Despite his notable performance, he was omitted from the playing XI for the subsequent match.
The exclusion of Kuldeep Yadav from India’s playing XI in Hyderabad sparks reactions from fans
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