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Team India started their home Test season in style with a 280-run win over Bangladesh in the series opener in Chennai. On a pitch that had something for the batters, pacer, and spinners, India overcame a poor start with the bat to post 376 in the first innings.
It was one-way traffic from that point as Rohit Sharma's men bulldozed Bangladesh for 149 before piling on 287/4 declared in their second essay. Despite some resistance from the visitors in the final innings, India eventually bowled them out for 234 to complete a comprehensive victory.
Beyond the result, the more eye-popping aspect of the first Test was India fielding three pacers and only two spinners in a home Test for the first time in almost five years. However, with the action shifting to Green Park in Kanpur for the second and final Test, India might be tempted to go in with the usual template of three spinners and two pacers.
While Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel are both worthy contenders to replace one of the pacers, here are three reasons why India must play the former in the 11 for the second Bangladesh Test.
# 1 Kuldeep Yadav boasts an incredible record at home with massive impact on winning
It is quite baffling how often Kuldeep Yadav has been left out of home Tests, considering his stupendous bowling numbers and winning impact in Indian conditions.
The 29-year-old has picked up 35 wickets in eight home Tests at an outstanding average of 21.82 with two 5-wicket hauls. Beyond only the numbers, India have also won all eight Tests Kuldeep has played at home.
Furthermore, in two of the series, India were in trouble before Kuldeep's addition to the playing XI saved the day.
India were locked in a 1-1 battle after three Tests against Australia in 2017 before Kuldeep's debut in the final Test at Dharamsala. He bagged a 4-wicket haul in the first innings of that outing to help India win by eight wickets and seal the series.
Fast forward to 2021 and India were in danger of a series defeat after losing the opening Test of a four-match series against England. Yet, Kuldeep played the following match and picked up two crucial second-inning wickets to help India level the series with a 317-run win.
And finally, to start this year, India lost the opening Test to England in Hyderabad before playing Kuldeep in the XI in the remaining four Tests. The result? Four consecutive wins with the left-arm spinner picking up 19 wickets at an average of 20.15.
All the above reasons make it obvious that India must play Kuldeep in the second Bangladesh Test.
# 2 Kuldeep Yadav starred in his lone Test outing against Bangladesh
Bangladesh must still have nightmares from the last time they faced Kuldeep Yadav in a Test match. The 29-year-old played the opening Test of India's tour of Bangladesh in 2022 and tormented the hosts in every way possible.
With India in a bit of bother at 293/7, Kuldeep dispirited the Bangladesh attack with a stubborn 114-ball 40 to help India reach 404 in the first innings. He then haunted the Tigers with the ball, picking up figures of 5/40 to restrict them to a paltry 150.
Kuldeep wasn't done demolishing Bangladesh as he picked up three more wickets in the final innings to help India record a 188-run win. What's more, the left-arm wrist spinner bagged ace all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan in both innings, while also dismissing key batters Najmul Hossain Shanto and Litton Das in the second innings.
With all three likely to feature in the upcoming Kanpur Test of the ongoing series and Kuldeep's memorable showing in his lone red-ball outing against Bangladesh, playing him in the XI should be a straightforward choice.
# 3 Kanpur has historically favored spinners
![Kumble worked magic with his leg-spin bowling at Kanpur during his playing career [Credit: Getty]](https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/09/64f24-17272585845395-1920.jpg)
The Green Park in Kanpur has historically been among the most spinner-friendly tracks in India. Among the top seven bowlers with the best bowling averages at the venue, six are spinners with Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh topping the list.
The duo also boast a healthy average of 19.76 and 23.85 - a clear indication of the venue being conducive to quality spin bowlers. While this and recent reports of a slow and low turning track suggests India going with a third spinner over the extra pacer, the question of who between Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel gets the nod remains.
While both left-arm spinners have impressive bowling records at home, India already have Ravindra Jadeja performing a similar role to Axar. Furthermore, the left-arm wrist spin of Kuldeep adds greater variety and is less dependent on the wicket condition should Kanpur throw up a surprisingly uncharacteristic track like Chennai.
Hence, India must, for all the above-mentioned reasons, go for Kuldeep Yadav to replace one of the three seamers in the playing XI for the Kanpur Test.
