Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra feels there will be a toss-up between Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav for India’s playing XI for the opening Test match against New Zealand. Both Patel and Yadav didn’t play in the two-match Test series against Bangladesh as Akash Deep was backed by the team management.

However, Chopra reckons India should strengthen their final XI by including either Axar Patel or Kuldeep Yadav. 

“Will they (India) want to play an extra spinner? The sort of pitches we made last time, whether we talk about the first match in Chennai and the second match in Kanpur, we tried to make slightly pace-friendly pitches. We went with three fast bowlers,” Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.

“That was the game plan because you were looking forward to the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, and you can play pace in any case against Bangladesh but not against New Zealand. I would say let’s go back to our tried and tested formula and play spin. There will be a toss-up between Axar and Kuldeep,” Chopra added.

The renowned commentator wants the Indian think tank to prefer Kuldeep Yadav ahead of Axar Patel as the former is a wicket-taker.

“I would say Kuldeep Yadav because he is a wicket-taker. He is your left-arm wrist-spinner. He is a bowler who will trouble the opposition. Now since Kane Williamson is also not there, for the first game at least, you can try to trap them against spin,” he reasoned.

Chopra acknowledged that the pace trio of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and Akash Deep did well against Bangladesh but feels it is the right time to back Kuldeep Yadav.

“So I would feel that you should play an extra spinner. The experiment with three fast bowlers is not a great idea in India. Bumrah, Siraj and Akash Deep are good, but I think now it’s time for you to get Kuldeep Yadav into the team, and he picks up wickets quickly,” Chopra observed.

India will take on New Zealand in the opening Test at Bengaluru from October 16 onwards.