"Wise To Play Axar Patel In Place Of...": Wasim Jaffer On Team Selection

Former Indian opener Wasim Jaffer wants Team India to go ahead with spin-bowling all-rounder Axar Patel instead of pace-bowling all-rounder Shardul Thakur ahead of their Asia Cup Super Four clash against Pakistan in Colombo. India will take on Pakistan in their Super Four clash of the ongoing Asia Cup in Colombo on Sunday. Ahead of the match, Jaffer said that conditions in Colombo are spin-friendly and when it comes to bowling all-rounders, Men in Blue should make the "wise" move of going ahead with Axar instead of Shardul.

"Due to spin-friendly conditions in Colombo, it will be wise to play Axar in place of Shardul. #INDvPAK," tweeted Jaffer.

The inclusion of Axar will not only offer India a solid spin option, but also a left-handed batter option.

Axar has also been in a solid form this year with the bat. In six ODIs, he has scored 64 runs, with the best score of 29*. He has often come down the order as a finisher, but has been promoted up to number four or five against Australia and West Indies, a tactic which failed.

Overall across all of international cricket this year, Axar has scored 485 runs in 17 innings at an average of 44.09, with four half-centuries and best score of 84. He also had a solid Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 for Delhi Capitals, scoring 283 runs at an average of 28.30, with one half-century with a strike rate of over 139.

Axar has not able been able to do very well as a bowler though, with three wickets in six ODIs and five wickets in eight T20Is this year, as far as white-ball cricket is concerned. He has taken three wickets across four Tests too. Overall, his numbers translate to 11 wickets in 18 matches with the best figures of 2/24.

Shardul on the other hand has been prolific with the ball,