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Kuldeep Yadav Preferred Over Axar Patel in India's Test Squad for West Indies
2 Oct, 2025
Summary
- Aakash Chopra picks Kuldeep Yadav as third spinner over Axar Patel
- KL Rahul aims to improve his Test average in India ahead of overseas tours
- India's experimental XI includes young talents like Yashasvi Jaiswal and Dhruv Jurel
As India prepares to face the West Indies in the first Test of their two-match series, former India player Aakash Chopra has unveiled his preferred Indian XI for the upcoming clash. The key highlight of Chopra's selection is his decision to choose Kuldeep Yadav as the third spinner, ahead of Axar Patel.
Chopra believes that with a strong batting lineup up to No. 8, India can afford to field three specialist spinners, with Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar providing all-round options. The analyst has also included young talents like Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sai Sudharsan, Devdutt Padikkal, and Dhruv Jurel in his top six.
The former India opener has also emphasized the importance of the upcoming series for KL Rahul, who has had a "strange Test career" so far. Rahul has performed well in overseas conditions but struggled to maintain consistent form at home. Chopra believes this is Rahul's opportunity to improve his Test average in India and silence any doubts about his future as an opener.
