As the Indian cricket team gears up to face Bangladesh in the first of a two-match Test series, fans are left wondering about the notable absence of star all-rounder Axar Patel from the playing XI. The toss for the match took place with Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto winning and opting to bowl first on a red soil pitch in Chennai, which is expected to favor spin as the game progresses.
The Toss and Team Decisions
After winning the toss, Shanto expressed his confidence in bowling first, citing moisture on the wicket that could benefit seamers early on. “I’ll like to bowl first. There’s moisture on the wicket and we want to make use of it. The pitch looks hard and there’s moisture. The first session will be very good for the seamers,” he stated.
In a surprising move, Indian captain Rohit Sharma decided to leave out Axar Patel, despite expectations that his spin bowling would be valuable on a pitch anticipated to turn later in the match. Instead, Sharma opted to include Akash Deep, a decision that has raised eyebrows among fans and analysts alike.
Why is Axar Not Playing?
Rohit Sharma explained his reasoning for including three seamers instead of two spinners and an all-rounder. “We feel confident. Three seamers and two spinners – Bumrah, Akash Deep, Siraj, Ashwin, and Jadeja,” he said during the toss.
Akash Deep has had limited experience at the Test level, having played just one match earlier this year against England where he took impressive figures of 3/83 in his debut innings. In contrast, Axar Patel has played 14 Tests, taking 55 wickets and scoring 646 runs, proving his ability as a reliable lower-order batsman and effective spinner.
Key Players Returning
The decision to omit Axar Patel comes as a shock given his contributions in previous matches and particularly after his standout performance in the T20 World Cup 2024 final. His absence raises questions about India’s strategy on a pitch that is expected to assist spin bowlers as the match unfolds.
Despite the controversy surrounding Axar’s exclusion, there is good news for India with the return of wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul after recovering from injury. Alongside Rishabh Pant, who is expected to keep wickets, Rahul will play as a specialist batsman. This dual wicketkeeping option adds depth to India’s batting lineup but also highlights the tough decisions faced by the selectors.
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