Axar Patel ruled out of India vs England 1st Test in Chennai

Axar Patel has been ruled out of the first Test between India and England on February 5 after complaining of knee pain. Shahbaz Nadeem and Rahul Chahar have been added to the side. In a statement released by the BCCI, it said. "The all-rounder complained of pain in his left knee during Team India’s optional training session on Thursday. He is being monitored by the BCCI Medical Team and while his detailed reports are awaited, he will not be available for selection for the opening match. The All-India Senior Selection Committee has added spinners Shahbaz Nadeem and Rahul Chahar to India’s squad. Both Nadeem and Chahar have been training with Team India as part of the standby group of players."

Axar Patel has played 38 ODIs and 11 Twenty20 Internationals for India and was slated to make his Test debut in Chepauk in the place of Ravindra Jadeja, who has been ruled out for the entire series after suffering a dislocated thumb during the Sydney Test against Australia in January. Shahbaz Nadeem did play a Test match against South Africa in Ranchi in 2019 while Rahul Chahar has impressed with his accuracy and skill for Mumbai Indians in IPL 2020. With the omission of Axar Patel, the second spinner's slot could go to either Washington Sundar or Kuldeep Yadav. Washington Sundar impressed in the Brisbane Test against Australia as he chipped in with wickets but more importantly, he shared a match-turning partnership with Shardul Thakur. His presence could give India tremendous depth in the batting. 

First match at home since the pandemic

The India vs England series at home will be the first international series that will be played in India amidst the coronavirus pandemic. Chennai will be hosting a Test match for the first time in five years, with the last match being against England in 2016. In that match, Karun Nair scored a triple ton and Ravindra Jadeja took 11 wickets to help India win the series 4-0. For the first Test, there will be no fans in attendance but there is a hope that the second Test at the same venue on February 13 would see crowd attendance of 50 percent.

England arrive in India on the back of having won their sixth consecutive Test in Sri Lanka and this will be ideal preparation for the team as they look to repeat their 2012 heroics in which they won 2-1. For Joe Root, this will be a special match as he becomes the 15th England player to play 100 Tests. In 2012, Joe Root had made his debut in India and since then, he has become one of the best batsmen in the modern era along with Virat Kohli, Kane Williamson and Steve Smith.