Three pacers or three spinners: That seems to be the dilemma for the Indian think-tank ahead of the opening Test of the two-match series against Bangladesh, which begins in Chittagong on Wednesday.

Jaydev Unadkat is out of the reckoning for the first Test since he is yet to receive the visa papers. The 31-year-old pacer is still at home in Rajkot and it is learnt that it will take another couple of days to resolve the logistical issues.

Umesh Yadav and Mohammad Siraj are the two confirmed pacers in the absence of Unadkat and the slow and low conditions could open the doors for three spinners. However, there is talk that Navdeep Saini could be drafted in as a third pacer after having a look at the pitch in the morning.

Ravichandran Ashwin is a certainty and Axar Patel will be the frontrunner for the second spinner’s spot. Axar has a stellar record in the six Tests he has played so far -- 39 wickets at 12.43.

The third spinner’s slot will be a toss-up between Kuldeep Yadav and Saurabh Kumar. Kuldeep could get the nod ahead of the talented Saurabh, since the left-arm wrist spinner adds variety to the attack. Saurabh is a left-arm spinner who has impressed in the A matches in Bangladesh.

Umesh, who has featured in only 11 Tests in the last four years, will be spearheading the attack in the absence of the injured Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami, confirmed bowling coach Paras Mhambrey.

“Umesh is a very experienced bowler, we all know what he brings to the table. With how things have been, unfortunately, he hasn’t got too many opportunities looking at the team balance.

“You have someone like Bumrah, Shami and Siraj coming in as well. He didn’t get too many opportunities, unfortunately. The team management has spoken to him why we have taken certain decisions... we have been very clear,” Mhambrey said.

“If I look at it the other way, Umesh Yadav becomes a spearhead for us now. He has a lot of experience with him going into the Test match. I’m also happy with the way Siraj has delivered in Test cricket. The Test matches he has played for us in England and other venues, he has performed for us and won Test matches for us.”

India will look to win both the Tests in this two-match series in Bangladesh to stay in the reckoning for a berth in the final of the World Test Championship. They can afford to lose only one Test of the remaining six (two in Bangladesh and four-match home series against Australia) to finish among the top two in the WTC cycle.

While Shubman Gill is set to open the innings with stand-in captain KL Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer and Rishabh Pant will occupy the No. 3 to No. 6 positions.

Gill averages 30.47 in 11 Tests and has an edge over Abhimanyu Easwaran because of his experience at the highest level.

Abhimanyu’s 141 and 157 for India A in Bangladesh put him in the reckoning but he is unlikely to make the cut.

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ICC rap for Rawalpindi

Dubai: The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Tuesday rated as “below average” the pitch used for the first Test between England and Pakistan at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, since it did not offer any help to the bowlers.

Seven centuries were scored in the game which England won by 74 runs. The venue also received one demerit point, its second in eight months. The pitch used for the first Test between Pakistan and Australia in March was also rated as below average.

“Match Referee Andy Pycroft has rated the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium pitch, that was used for the first match of the series between Pakistan and England, as ‘below average’ and the venue has received one demerit point under the ICC Pitch and Outfield Monitoring Process,” a ICC media release said.

Pycroft said: “It was a very flat pitch which gave almost no assistance to any type of bowler.”

PTI