Rohit Sharma has made up his mind but he won't let the proverbial cat out of the bag.

While there ceases to be much surprise in the India playing XI, the only spot which could trigger a debate could be the third spinner's position. It revolves around Kuldeep Yadav, making a comeback to the Test fold since December 2022, and Axar Patel, who has been India's preferred choice in a home series since Kuldeep lost his place in the team.

The past year has seen Kuldeep establishing himself as a regular in the white-ball format. He derived more purchase off the wicket following certain modifications to his action; the shorter delivery stride besides a better front arm and the arm speed got him to rip more revolutions on the ball.

It fetched him more wickets and his success in the shorter format didn't go unnoticed. A left-arm wrist spinner always produces more wicket-taking options and the national selectors were quick to recall him for this Test series.

The selectors even got him to feature in a Ranji match against Kerala in the lead-up to this series, his first in over seven years. Will the team management pick Kuldeep in an attempt to nullify England's Bazball approach?

Or will they stick with Axar whose batting provides depth in the lower order, especially when Virat Kohli is missing the first two Tests?

Axar had a poor record in India's last home series against Australia when he finished with only three wickets in four Tests on rank turners.

"Kuldeep gives you a certain X-factor," Rohit admitted. "You've seen how well he's been bowling of late. Especially the wicket if it has bounce, or if it doesn't have bounce, Kuldeep becomes a factor... as well because he has got superb variations."

But the India captain didn't spill the beans. "Axar with his all-round ability, gives us that batting depth, the consistency that he has shown playing in these conditions in Test cricket also is an important factor for us," Rohit said.

England certainly would prefer the one-dimensional Axar to Kuldeep.