Kuldeep Yadav or Axar Patel: Who Will India Pick in Playing XI for IND vs WI 2025 1st Test?

Team India are back home to play West Indies in a two-Test series. The first match will start in Ahmedabad on Thursday, October 2. This will be Shubman Gill's first Test series at home as captain, after his good start as captain in England.

India are the favorites against West Indies, but they must remember the 0-3 loss to New Zealand in their last home Test series.

Gill will have tough choices for the playing XI. One big decision is whether to pick Kuldeep Yadav or Axar Patel as the third spinner, along with Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar.

Assuming India play two pacers along with Jadeja and Sundar, one of Kuldeep or Axar will sit out in the Ahmedabad Test against West Indies.

Here we look at who between Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel should be in India’s playing XI for the first Test.

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1. Kuldeep Yadav or Axar Patel – Who is ahead?

Neither Kuldeep nor Axar played in India’s last Test series in England. But Kuldeep was part of the squad and was close to making the XI.

When India last played a home series against New Zealand, Kuldeep was picked ahead of Axar. Even though he got injured after the first Test, the team did not pick Axar later either. This shows that Kuldeep is ahead of Axar in the spin order.

Edge: Kuldeep Yadav

2. Better team fit

India will almost surely play Jadeja and Sundar in the XI. Both are finger spinners. Picking Axar, who bowls very similar to Jadeja, may not add much variety.

Kuldeep, on the other hand, is a left-arm wrist spinner. He offers more attacking options and can be effective even on flat pitches.

Axar may only be considered if India want a stronger batter at No. 8, but that depends on pitch conditions. If it helps pacers, India may even go with just two spinners (Jadeja and Sundar).

Edge: Kuldeep Yadav

3. Form and numbers

Axar has good home Test numbers – 47 wickets in 12 games at an average of 18.65. Kuldeep also has solid stats – 38 wickets in 9 games at 23.39.

But Axar’s best form came in 2021-22. In his last six home Tests, he has only 8 wickets at an average close to 50.

Kuldeep, meanwhile, has been excellent recently – 22 wickets in 5 home Tests in 2024 at 23.09.

In the England series last year, India lost the first Test when Kuldeep did not play and Axar took just 3 wickets. After Kuldeep came into the XI, India won four Tests in a row and he took 19 wickets. Axar was dropped after two games.

With the bat, Axar is far better. But with Jadeja and Sundar also there, India should focus more on bowling.

Edge: Kuldeep Yadav

Verdict

Kuldeep Yadav is ahead of Axar Patel in form, fit, and impact. He should play the first Test against West Indies.