India will face New Zealand in a test series of two games in Kanpur on Thursday. The two teams last clashed in the first final of the World Test Championship (WTC) earlier this year, which New Zealand won with eight wickets. India will play on home soil and start the series as favorites, trying to get some form of revenge for the WTC final defeat. With regular captain Virat Kohli absent for the opening test, Ajinkya Rahane will lead the team in Kanpur. Kohli will return to lead the team in the second test.

Spin could play a key role in the two game test series and much is expected from the veteran duo Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja.

Axar Patel, the left weirdo, is also in the Indian squad and will hope to be part of the team in Kanpur.

However, according to former Pakistani captain Salman Butt, Axar is not currently a similar replacement for Jadeja.

Speak on his YouTube channelButt noted that Axar and Jadeja are currently not in the “same league”. However, he added that Axar will eventually become a regular on the Indian test team.

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“Axar Patel is very talented, but Ravindra Jadeja is a complete player, be it in batting, bowling or fielding. He’s an excellent team man. If a player leaves, his replacement comes, so you have that in the future. If you haven’t.” Jadeja, then you have Axar Patel, “said Butt.

“But at the moment, if you think the replacement is ready and he can take Jadeja’s place, I don’t think they’re in the same league. He (Axar) is very talented and will take that place in the future, but Jadeja is the better option in my opinion, “he added.