Team India typically maintains their established winning strategy without making adjustments, even though this rigid approach can sometimes lead to negative consequences. An example of this was seen during their successful campaign in England in 2021, where they relied on a lineup comprising four fast bowlers and Ravindra Jadeja.
However, they persisted with the same strategy in the World Test Championship (WTC) final against Australia, where the inclusion of Ravichandran Ashwin instead of a pacer was necessary, resulting in their loss. Nonetheless, the upcoming second Test against West Indies at Queen’s Park Oval offers an ideal opportunity for India to adapt their approach to suit the conditions at hand.
Despite their impressive victory in the first Test by an innings and 141 runs, they can consider including left-arm spinner Axar Patel in the team in order to maintain their dominance or even surpass it.
Here are the reasons:
1. Historical spin-friendly nature of Queen’s Park Oval:
Queen’s Park Oval has a long-standing reputation for favouring spinners. Prominent left-arm spinner Bishan Singh Bedi claimed a significant portion of his wickets at this venue, with a remarkable average of 28.16 runs per wicket.
Even other notable Indian spinners such as Anil Kumble and S. Venkataraghavan have enjoyed success here. The spin-friendly conditions make it imperative for India to capitalize on this advantage by including Axar Patel alongside Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin.
2. Limited contribution from Shardul Thakur in the first Test:
Although it may seem harsh to drop Shardul Thakur after just one Test, successful teams prioritize tactical considerations over individual players. In the previous match, Thakur had minimal involvement, bowling only seven overs and not getting the opportunity to bat.
By replacing him with Axar Patel, who thrives in spin-friendly conditions, India can utilize all three spinners effectively and exploit the West Indies’ vulnerability against spin, as demonstrated by the majority of wickets falling to spinners in the first Test.
3. Axar Patel’s outstanding recent form:
Axar Patel has been in exceptional form for India, particularly in the Border Gavaskar Trophy against Australia. Despite playing in the shadow of Jadeja and Ashwin, he showcased his batting prowess by being the third-highest run-scorer in the series, accumulating 264 runs at an average of 88.00.
Patel’s presence not only strengthens India’s batting lineup in favourable conditions but also provides additional value with his bowling abilities. As Ashwin and Jadeja near the twilight of their careers, this presents an excellent opportunity to test Patel’s capabilities in overseas conditions.
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