The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced Team India’s squad for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia. Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel were removed from the team, with Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, and Ravichandran Ashwin getting the go-ahead. The exclusion of Kuldeep and Axar surprised former players Parthiv Patel and Aakash Chopra.
The Indian Cricket Board’s press release revealed that Kuldeep is nursing a chronic injury and will report to the National Cricket Academy after the New Zealand series.
He played the opening Test in Bengaluru but was left out of the Playing XI in Pune.
“Washington Sundar has been magnificent in the Pune Test, but I still feel Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel should have travelled to Australia and not the Tamil Nadu spinner. Kuldeep and Axar have always delivered for the team. It is surprising for me not to see their names in the team,” Parthiv Patel said on JioCinema.
Aakash Chopra highlighted the fact that Kuldeep is still part of the Indian squad and is available for the third Test against New Zealand. “He is in the squad for the ongoing second Test and will continue to remain with the team for the third game as well. It means his injury is not serious. They could have treated him after the series against Australia, but the selectors decided to go with Washington Sundar. Axar Patel is another notable absentee. India could have taken an extra spinner to Australia,” he said.
The first Test of the series will start on November 22 in Perth.