'Axar Patel would be my first choice' - Aakash Chopra picks India's spin line-up for first West Indies T20I

After winning the Test and the ODI series, India would like to carry the momentum into the five-match T20I series against the West Indies starting on August 3 in Trinidad. The next two games of the series will be played at Guyana’s Providence Stadium on August 6 and 8, before the caravan moves to Florida for the last two encounters on August 12 and 13.

Former India opener Aakash Chopra has revealed his choice of spinners for the T20I series, naming Axar Patel as his first choice given that he is “like-for-like replacement” for Ravindra Jadeja, who is not a part of the T20I squad.

“With the four spinners available, Axar Patel would be my first choice because he is an all-rounder and is a like-for-like replacement for (Ravindra) Jadeja, and also has done well in the IPL. It’s too difficult to make any of these other spinners sit on the bench. But, I will go with Yuzi Chahal. He is not getting an opportunity to play at all these days.” Chopra said on JioCinema. 

On the other hand, Nikhil Chopra, another JioCinema expert said: “I would want to see Kul-Cha (Kuldeep Yadav and Chahal). When it comes to wicket-taking, a wrist spinner has an influence on good wickets and when we play T20s on these wickets, Kuldeep and Yuzi have that ability to take wickets.” 

Chopra, the former India off-spinner, added: “We all know that ‘Chatur Chahal’ name hasn’t been given to him just for the sake of it. He is a chess player, knows how to read the batsmen, reads the situation and bowls. So, I would want to see Axar first, then Yuzi, and along with them Kuldeep Yadav.” 

Former spinner and national selector Sarandeep Singh, who is now a JioCinema expert, said: “The first has to be Axar Patel as he not only bowls, but bats as well and is also a good fielder. Second, the kind of form Kuldeep is in, be it in the IPL or ODI series, the way he has bowled, he should be preferred. So, with Axar Patel you need a Kuldeep Yadav.”