File photo of Axar Patel (left) and Kuldeep Yadav.© BCCI
India picked a total of three spinners for the ongoing first Test match against England at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad but Kuldeep Yadav still failed to make a cut into the team. On the other hand, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin and Axar Patel were the ones who were included for the game. At the toss, Rohit informed that the team management had to take call between Axar and Kuldeep Yadav but the former got preference due to his batting ability.
“It was a tough one (to leave out Kuldeep Yadav), we thought a lot about it. Axar (Patel), whenever he had played, he has done well and bats really well in these conditions. He got some really good score the last time we played against Australia. Probably the reason we went with Axar,” said Rohit Sharma after England skipper Ben Stokes won the toss and opted to bat first.
Meanwhile, Rohit put a lot of trust in his team and said the at the side is up for the England challenge.
“A good series, I am playing for the first time – five Test matches. The guys are excited. It’ll be challenging but we are up for it. We have played in these conditions before. We know what to expect and what we need to do, it’s all about executing your skills, backing yourself and being brave enough to take the opportunity,” said the captain.
Rohit already stated that the way England play isn’t their concern but the story of the five-match series will be ‘Bazball’ against spin.
The last time England ended with a Test series win on Indian soil was in 2012 when Alastair Cook and Kevin Pietersen batted to perfection but the series fell in the visitors’ favour because of Monty Panesar, Graeme Swann and James Anderson’s heroics with the ball.
Since then only Australia managed to almost draw a Test series on Indian soil in 2016/17.
(With ANI Inputs)
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