Former Australia National Cricket Team spinner Brad Hogg has revealed his India playing XI for the first Test against Bangladesh, and he has surprisingly ignored KL Rahul and Axar Patel. Ahead of the start of the first Test in Chennai, former Australian spinner Brad Hogg has picked India’s playing XI and left KL Rahul and Axar Patel out. He also preferred Rishabh Pant over Dhruv Jurel as wicketkeeper-batter.
Axar Patel is likely to miss out with the seasoned and experienced Ravichandran Ashwin in the squad for the Tests versus Bangladesh . While it would be a little harsh on the left-handed all-rounder Axar Patel after his heroics in recent times, one understands, Ashwin is way ahead in the pecking order in this duel.
KL Rahul and Axar Patel’s astounding numbers in Test cricket
KL Rahul and Axar Patel have impressive numbers in Test cricket. KL Rahul has amassed 2863 runs in 50 Tests with the help of eight centuries and 14 fifties. The 32-year-old Karnataka batter has played just one Test for India in 2024, where he sustained a quadriceps injury against England in the Hyderabad Test earlier this year.
Meanwhile, Axar Patel has bagged 55 wickets in just 14 Tests, comprising five five-wicket hauls. With the bat, he has amassed 646 runs in 14 Tests, hitting four half-centuries. The 30-year-old scored 133 runs and bagged five wickets in two Tests against England this year.
Axar Patel was on fire for India D in the Duleep Trophy 2024 match played against India C in Anantapur last week. Axar Patel hammered 86 runs with the help of six fours and as many sixes in the first inning and then picked up wickets as well in both innings. On the other hand, KL Rahul was India A’s top scorer in both the inning of the match played against India B at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.
Ahead of the start of the first Test in Chennai, former Australian spinner Brad Hogg has picked India’s playing XI and left Rahul and Axar Patel out.
KL Rahul, Axar Patel snubbed as Brad Hogg picks India XI for 1st Test vs Bangladesh
Former Australia cricketer Brad Hogg has ignored wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul and all-rounder Axar Patel in his India playing XI for the opening Test against Bangladesh. The first of a two-match Test series will be played at MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai from September 19 onwards.
Apart from Rahul and Axar Patel, Dhruv Jurel also missed out on his pick in the XI due to obvious reasons. Rishabh Pant is back in the fold after two years in Test cricket following his phase-wise comeback after recovery from injuries that he sustained in a car accident in 2022. Rahul and Axar Patel recently impressed in the 2024 Duleep Trophy match. Rahul returned with scores of 37 and 57 in his two outings for India A versus India B. Meanwhile, Axar Patel scored 86 and 28 in his two innings and scalped three wickets for India D against India C.
Brad Hogg said on his YouTube channel (via YouTube Shorts):
“The XI that I am going or the first Test match against Bangladesh for India – Jaiswal, Rohit Sharma open the batting. Gill at three, Kohli at 4, and Jadeja coming at five just to keep that left-handed right-hand combination going. Sarfaraz Khan, Pant and then you’re into the bowlers, where you’ve got Ashwin, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj, and Bumrah.”
“That team will go pretty well down in Australia as well. So, they’ve got to start warming up for the Australian summer. India, so this will be a good start for them. No KL Rahul or Axar Patel in my playing XI,” he added
The BCCI has announced a 16-member squad for the first Test match against Bangladesh, and it will be a big task for Gautam Gambhir and Rohit Sharma to pick the ideal XI. Wicketkeeper batter Rishabh Pant will be making his Test comeback for the first time since his horrific car accident.
He has already made a sensational return to white-ball cricket in the T20 World Cup 2024, but red-ball is the format where he was the undisputed starter for India before the unfortunate accident. The wicketkeeper batter made a statement with a quick half-century in the Duleep Trophy match to announce that he is ready to own the stage in red-ball cricket once again.
Batting maestro Virat Kohli, who missed the England series for personal reasons, will also be returning to the Test team and an automatic starter in the XI. However, the team management has to take some tough calls to finalize the middle-order and bowling attack for the Chennai Test.
India National Cricket Team are set to lock horns with the Bangladesh National Cricket Team in the two-match Test series at home. The first Test will be played from September 19 in Chennai, and the second Test will be played from September 27 in Kanpur.