Axar Patel included for 2nd Test, Kuldeep dropped

For the second and final Test against Sri Lanka, the Indian team management has dropped Kuldeep Yadav from the red-ball squad.

Kuldeep makes way for left-arm spinner Axar Patel, who is returning to the playing XI after fully recovering from his injury.

This is not surprising as Axar was always in the mix.

When the Chetan Sharma-led selection committee had announced the squad for the Sri Lanka Tests, it was mentioned that Axar would only be fit for the second game.

According to sources, “Axar was the first choice but had to undergo recovery, and hence Kuldeep was a backup. Now Axar is fit and back, so Kuldeep has been released.”

Axar last featured for Team India in the two-match Test battle against New Zealand.

He missed the South Africa tour and the home series against West Indies due to a shin injury.

Later, Axar tested positive for COVID-19, which further delayed his return.

The second and final Test will start on March 13 in Bengaluru.

India’s Test squad:

Rohit Sharma (captain), Jasprit Bumrah (vice-captain), Priyank Panchal, Mayank Agarwal, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Hanuma Vihari, Shubhman Gill, Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), KS Bharat, Ravindra Jadeja, Jayant Yadav, Ravichandran Ashwin, Axar Patel, Saurabh Kumar, Mohammed Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Mohammad Shami, Jasprit Bumrah (vice-captain).