Former India spinner Harbhajan Singh believes that Kuldeep Yadav should be selected in the host team as the third spinner in the home Test series against England. Let us tell you, for quite some time now many people have given their statements regarding who among Kuldeep Yadav and Akshar Patel should be included in the Indian team as the third spinner?

Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja can be seen playing as the first two spinners in the Indian playing XI. Talking about the third spinner, Akshar Patel can play an important role for the team with bowling as well as batting, while Kuldeep Yadav is a better option as a bowler.

Harbhajan Singh while talking to PTI said, ‘As per what I see, I think both Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja can be seen playing in the playing XI. I think the third specialist spinner will be Kuldeep Yadav. Kuldeep Yadav is a wrist spinner and has a lot of variation. But I think Axar Patel will be selected in the Test match because he can play an important role with batting also. Akshar Patel can bat at number 8 or 9.

But I don’t understand why you need a batsman at number 9 when you have players like Jadeja. If Jadeja and Ashwin play, then Kuldeep Yadav should be included in the team as the third specialist spinner. This is my belief.

Akshar Patel targets the stumps and that’s why he is my favourite: Harbhajan Singh

Harbhajan Singh further said, ‘On a turning pitch you need a target shooter. If a bowler keeps throwing the ball on the wicket continuously then he will definitely get success. Akshar is expert in this thing. He can bowl consistently on the stumps and that is why he is my favourite.

If we talk about batsmen, we have not performed very well on the turning pitch. Our batsmen have also been seen struggling a lot and that is why we will also need batsmen below and that is why Axar Patel can be included in the team.