Former Indian cricketer Aakash believes India might be tempted to bring in another all-rounder Axar Patel into the playing 11 if the pitch is similar to the one in Dominica. Rohit Sharma-led side played a dominating brand of cricket against the Men in Maroon in the 1st test and will look to continue their winning run going into the 2nd test on Thursday.
India secured a dominating win over the Men in Maroon as the home was outplayed in all three departments. Rohit Sharma, Ravichandran Ashwin, and young Yashasvi Jaiswal produced a brilliant performance in the 1st test against the West Indies team which helped the Indian team secure a victory over West Indies on Day 3.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra believes that India would not bring in an additional fast bowler in the team though they offer a green top surface for the 2nd test as they have got three pacers in the lineup and feels that play an extra spinner in form of Axar Patel if the pitch has some assistance to spin bowling.
“If you give a slightly greenish surface, suddenly the Indian team might also think whether they should play a fourth fast bowler although they won’t. I feel India will play with three fast bowlers only but for that also you need a green-top pitch.”
“If it is a Dominica-like surface, the Indian team will play an extra spinner. You will see Axar Patel playing if there is a similar dryness and slowness in the pitch. If Axar plays, the 20 wickets will be split, and you will see a tussle between the three spinners which was there only between two in the first Test match,” Aakash Chopra said.
Indian all-rounder Axar Patel has been in the form of his life in recent times. The Left-handed all-rounder has been consistent with both bat and ball in all three formats of the game for India. The 29-year-old could play a vital role for India when provided an opportunity in the 2nd test.
I Don’t Think There Is Going To Be Any Change There – Aakash Chopra
Aakash Chopra believes that they would be no change in the batting department, as they performed exceedingly well in the 1st against West Indies, and reckons that KS Bharat should have been given the opportunity in the 1st test in place of the debutant Ishan Kishan in the team.
“Is there any scope for a change in terms of the batting department? I feel there is no scope and I don’t see any change happening as well. I had definitely said originally that KS Bharat should be given a chance but you didn’t do that and you didn’t get Ishan Kishan to bat, so I don’t think there is going to be any change there,” Aakash Chopra added.
Ishan Kishan will look to make use of the opportunity in the second test against West Indies as he was preferred ahead of KS Bharat for the West Indies tour, who kept wickets for the Indian team during the World Test Championship final against Australia in England.