'Only debatable position is 11th position, whether it's Siraj or Axar': Jaffer dissects team combination for 2nd Test

The Indian team management has released Kuldeep Yadav from the squad and added fit-again Axar Patel to the contingent.

India dished out a clinical performance to record an innings win against Sri Lanka in the first Test. Ravindra Jadeja was adjudged as Player of the Match for his unbeaten 175 in the first innings and nine wickets in the game. The action now shifts to Bengaluru where India and Sri Lanka will square off against each other in the second Test, beginning Saturday.

Wasim Jaffer and Axar Patel

The Indian team management has released Kuldeep Yadav from the squad and added fit-again Axar Patel to the contingent. The all-rounder has completed his rehab and was cleared by the medical team as the team management faces a happy headache when it comes to the final combination. But former India international Wasim Jaffer feels Axar is likely to be included in the eleven for the pink-ball Test.

Jaffer said that the hosts will ponder the inclusion of Mohammed Siraj but eventually select Axar as the eleventh player in the team. "Teams should look to bat first after winning the toss, especially in India, no doubt. I think Axar Patel will walk back into the playing XI, but India will be tempted to look at Mohammad Siraj with the pink ball. So, the only debatable position is the eleventh position, whether it is Siraj or Axar, but most likely it would be Axar," said Jaffer on ESPNCricinfo.

Axar was phenomenal in India's last pink-ball Test where he picked up 11 wickets against England at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. He was last seen playing in the home assignment versus New Zealand last year.

In the first Test, Sri Lanka made 178 in their second innings after getting bundled out for 174 in the first. India, who declared their first innings on 574-8, enforced the follow-on. Jaffer believes the visiting side should include a second spinner in their combination and "bat big" to avoid a 0-2 defeat.

"I think Sri Lanka should play a second spinner, they needed that in the first Test. So, we could easily see that happening. Sri Lanka need to bat big. That's the easiest way they can get into a commanding position. If they score something close to 450, they can force something to happen. If India bat big, then I see no chance for Sri Lanka," Jaffer further said.

The Test marks the first time that the Chinnaswamy stadium will host an international match since the third ODI between India and Australia on January 19, 2020. It is also the first Test match to be played at the venue since Afghanistan's first-ever Test match was played against India on January 14 and 15, 2018.

Chinnaswamy earlier was going to host the first Test, which would have been Virat Kohli's 100th game in the longest format. However, it was then decided as the venue for the second Test so as to facilitate a direct flight back home for Sri Lanka.