Axar Patel back into Indian squad, replace Kuldeep Yadav for 2nd Sri Lanka Test: Bowling all-rounder Axar Patel has completely recovered from his injury and subsequently drafted into the Indian test side for the second test against Sri Lanka.
Axar Patel has replaced left-arm spinner Kuldeep Yadav for the second test between India and Sri Lanka, to be held from March 12 in Bangalore.
The second and final test of the two matches test series between India and Sri Lanka will be held in Bangalore’s M Chinnaswamy Stadium, beginning March 12th. The test will be a day/night fixture.
Axar Patel had sustained a shin injury owing to which he missed the tour of South Africa tour along with the home series against West Indies. He was also unavailable for the opening test against Sri Lanka in Mohali, which India won by an innings and 222 runs inside three days.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has released Kuldeep Yadav from the test squad and the cricketer is likely to join his respective IPL franchise to undergo training for the TATA IPL 2022.
“Axar was the first choice but had to undergo recovery and hence Kuldeep was a backup,” a BCCI source told PTI.
“Now Axar is fit and back so Kuldeep has been released,” the source added.
Meanwhile, Axar Patel, who also tested covid positive recently, has recovered from that as well.
Team India went with three spinners in the first test against Sri Lanka in Mohali. Skipper Rohit Sharma preferred Jayant Yadav as the third spinner while Ravindra Jadeja and R Ashwin occupied the first two positions of the spin bowling.
Jayant Yadav went wicketless in both innings while his spin counterparts dominated the match as they scalped 15 wickets combined in the first test.
Axar Patel will get a place in the starting playing11 for the Bengaluru test if India persists with three spinners and two-seamers.
However, with the test being a day/night fixture in Bengaluru, Rohit Sharma might prefer going with three pacers and two spinners in R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja.
It will be interesting to know what team India evaluates of the surface and how they strategize their game against the sloppy Lankans on March 12.
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