Axar Patel Or Kuldeep Yadav As 3rd Spinner For IND vs BAN Test? Dinesh Karthik Reveals His Choice

For India, a series win over Bangladesh would strengthen their bid for a spot in the World Test Championship Final for the third consecutive time.

Rohit Sharma-led Indian cricket team is gearing up for their long-awaited return to the field after an extended break. A full-strength squad will face Bangladesh in first Test of the two-match series, starting September 19 at Chennai's MA Chidambaram Stadium.

IND vs BAN Test series marks comeback of key players like KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant in the red-ball format, along with Jasprit Bumrah, who returns to the national side after his last appearance in T20 World Cup 2024.

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For India, a series win over Bangladesh would strengthen their bid for a spot in the World Test Championship Final for third consecutive time.

Coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Rohit Sharma are in a favorable position regarding player fitness and availability, but this has created a selection dilemma for Indian team management—a challenge of abundance.

India now faces the tough decision of selecting either Axar Patel or Kuldeep Yadav as the third spinner for IND vs BAN Test series.

India Unlikely To Field Third Spinner In IND vs BAN 1st Test

IND vs BAN 1st Test is expected to be played on a red-soil pitch in Chennai, known for its extra bounce. Due to this, India is likely to opt for a five-bowler combination, with two spinners and three pacers.

Ashwin and Jadeja are indispensable, given their dual strengths as both spinners and lower-order batters.

In the pace department, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj are confirmed, while the choice for the third pacer will likely be between Yash Dayal and Akash Deep. If this strategy is adopted, neither Kuldeep Yadav nor Axar Patel may feature in the playing XI as 'third spinner'.

Here's what Dinesh Karthik feels about the 'third spin bowling' option:

"I get the feeling that India is going to play on a slightly pace-oriented pitches, knowing that it is a good way to beat Bangladesh. Also, they'll be preparing for the Australian Test series (BGT) that is coming Down Under end of this year. I think they'll (India) only be playing two spinners – Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja followed by three fast bowlers," said Dinesh Karthik on Cricbuzz.