Kuldeep Yadav or Axar Patel: Who should Virat Kohli play in 3rd Test vs SL?

Balagolla: Virat Kohli’s Team India has enjoyed a brilliant run in Sri Lanka so far. Having taken all 10 wickets in all of Sri Lanka’s four innings, and also having put up a 600-plus total in both matches, the Men in Blue has had a smooth ride against an injury-prone Sri Lanka.

However, just like Sri Lanka, India had their causes of concern, specially after Man of the Match of the second Test Ravindra Jadeja, who finished the second innings with 5/152, was banned from playing the third Test after having accumulated six demerit points in a span of 24 months.

Jadeja, after successfully stopping a ball off a delivery to Dimuth Karunaratne, threw the ball at him in a rude manner, leading him to the suspension.

This offers a great chance to left-arm chinaman bowler Kuldeep Yadav, who has played only one Test so far, having made his debut against Australia this year. However, on Wednesday, left-arm orthodox bowler Axar Patel, who is yet to play a Test match, was drafted into the Indian squad as a replacement for Jadeja.

Clearly, the 23-year-old Axar has played more limited-overs matches (30 ODIs and seven T20Is) than Kuldeep Yadav (five ODIs and one T20I), and without doubt his experience in the international level could be a reason for the Indian selectors to go with Patel, if he does play the third Test.

Axar Patel, who played his last ODI against New Zealand last year, has been instrumental so far, having taken 35 wickets in 30 ODIs. In the 2016 home season, he picked up 7 wickets in 8 matches, with a decent economy rate of 3. 53. Even in terms of List A matches, Axar has enjoyed a good run than Kuldeep, having taken 115 wickets from 87 matches. Whereas, Kuldeep, who has only played 15 List A matches, has managed to scalp 22 wickets.

At the same time, the 22-year-old Kuldeep cannot be written off. Having picked up a four wicket spell (4/91) in his debut Test against Australia, Kuldeep could prove to be a key factor in India’s bowling attack, with the bowlers having enjoyed a good run in the island nation.

Possible spin combinations:

Ravichandran Ashwin and Axar Patel

Ravichandran Ashwin has been a key player with his off-spin, especially with his variations of deliveries coming in the second Test match. The Tamil Nadu all-rounder was bowling with a lot of variation as the pitch showed signs of turning from the second day.

Axar Patel, on the other hand, has been picked only in limited overs matches so far. However, he could prove to be useful with his left-arm orthodox action. Axar has a good record in First Class cricket (79 wickets from 23 matches), and that could help him gain his maiden Test cap on Saturday.

With Team India getting ready to play on yet another spin friendly pitch, Virat Kohli could go with the spin-combination of Ashwin and Axar, as the latter can be tactically seen as a direct replacement for Jadeja.

Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav

As India have already wrapped up the three-Test series 2-0, the last match at the Pallekelle International Stadium can be used by Kohli to experiment new combinations.

As Team India have built a reputation of keeping an eye for the future, giving veteran tweaker Ravichandran Ashwin may not be a distant possibility.

To add to that, the Indians have a hectic season ahead of them, with tours planned against Australia, Nez Zealand, Sri Land and South Africa.

Ravichandran Ashwin and Kuldeep Yadav

There is no doubt that Ashwin is far more experienced than Kuldeep Yadav. However, the latter has been on the fringes of the Team India starting XI for some while now, and would have learnt a lot, bowling with Ashwin and Jadeja in the nets.

Ravichandran Ashwin, Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel

Virat Kohli could play all the three spinners too, given the situation of the pitch before the Test.

With India playing their next Test series against Sri Lanka at home later this year, the skipper will look to give both Kuldeep and Axar a warm up, along with Ashwin as the long home season awaits the Men in Blue.

Both Axar and Ashwin are good with the bat as well, with the latter having scored a half-century in the previous match. Kuldeep, too, can step up at times, so Kohli could go with a safe option of three spinners.