IND vs ENG: Ravindra Jadeja IN, Axar Patel or Kuldeep Yadav OUT? Zaheer Khan gives his verdict on India's spin combination in Rajkot

After a ten-day hiatus, Team India is poised to face England in the third Test in Rajkot, commencing Thursday (February 15). Following a drawn series in the second Test held in Visakhapatnam, led by Rohit Sharma, the Indian side aims to display a clinical performance in Rajkot to secure a lead against the Ben Stokes-led English team.

However, the home side has been dealt with setbacks due to injuries or lack of form to key players. KL Rahul's absence due to injury and the exclusion of Shreyas Iyer present challenges for the team management, necessitating the search for suitable replacements.

Ravindra Jadeja set to make a comeback in home Test

On a positive note, all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja is set to make his comeback, particularly significant as the match will be played at his home ground i.e. Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Rajkot. Ahead of the match, the team management faces a selection dilemma regarding the bowling lineup, especially with Jadeja's inclusion in the playing eleven.

Zaheer Khan, a former India cricketer and pace legend, highlights the dilemma, suggesting that Jadeja's selection prompts the management to decide between Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav. The decision will hinge on various factors, including the pitch conditions and the team's strategy.

While speaking on who Jadeja will replace, the former left-arm India pacer said, "That's another headache once you have picked the squad! Whether it's going to be Axar (Patel), whether it's going to be Kuldeep (Yadav) or you are going to pick all of them.

IND vs ENG 3rd Test: Should India pick an extra bowler with Jasprit Bumrah?

"This is something India will be thinking about, whether you need that extra bowler along with Jasprit (Bumrah). It will also depend on how the pitch is going to play, so some complex decision-making will be involved. But there's a lot to think about for the decision makers."

Rajkot Pitch To Favour Batters Or Bowlers?

Commenting on the kind of pitch one can expect in Rajkot, Khan hoped for a surface akin to those seen in Hyderabad and Vizag, offering a balanced contest between bat and ball initially, with spin coming into play later on. He also anticipates reverse swing and spinner dominance in the latter stages.

"I hope the pitch is on similar lines to the one in Hyderabad and Vizag. On that kind of surface, we should be able to see a good contest between bat and ball for the first two days and spin comes into play on the third day. You'll see some reverse swing as well. And on the fourth and fifth days, you'll have the spinners dominating.

"If that is the pattern, it will make for a nice viewing experience for all the spectators and the fans will enjoy. England are up for that kind of a challenge, and you would want England to be debating four spin options or two seam options. You would want England to be confused when they are taking those decisions," Khan added.

Jasprit Bumrah Challenge For England

Former England cricketer Owais Shah while underscoring the challenge posed by India's star pacer Jasprit Bumrah to England's middle-order highlighted the Gujarat quick's ability to generate reverse swing in Rajkot.

"The big match-up will be between Jasprit Bumrah and England's middle-order. That's because Bumrah will be able to generate reverse swing in Rajkot. When he bowls with the old ball, it becomes difficult for the England batters. That's because he's getting wickets and also not giving away runs," Shah remarked on England's Bumrah challenge.

England, on the eve of the third Test, announced the playing eleven for the match and included Mark Wood as the second pacer. Wood, who made way for James Anderson in the second Test which the visitors lost, has replaced spinner Shoaib Bashir in the playing eleven.