Axar Patel added to India’s squad for 2nd Test, Kuldeep released

The All-India Senior Selection Committee has added Axar Patel to India’s squad for the second Test against Sri Lanka to be played from March 12-16 in Bengaluru.

“The all-rounder has completed his rehab and has been cleared by the BCCI Medical Team,” stated an official release. Kuldeep Yadav has been released from the squad for the second Test.

India had won the first Test against Sri Lanka by an innings and 222 runs. Ravindra Jadeja was adjudged as Player of the Match.

Jadeja had scored an unbeaten 175 in the first innings and then he went on to take nine wickets in the game.

Meanwhile, India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has condoled the demise of Shane Warne, saying the Australian brought spin as an attacking commodity to this cricketing world.

Warne passed away on Friday aged 52 due to a suspected heart attack. “I see Warne as a flag-bearer for carrying the spin aspect of bowling on the front in the world cricketing map. The top three wicket-takers in the world are spinners in Muttiah Muralitharan, Shane Warne and Anil Kumble. He was an interesting character. So many Australian legends had so many nice things to say about him. I still can’t accept the fact that life is so fickle. We cannot predict what can happen,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.

“Shane Warne was a colourful character, he redefined bowling, he has taken more than 1000 international wickets, not many can achieve this rare feat. Shane Warne brought spin as an attacking commodity to this cricketing world. Everyone will talk about Warne’s delivery to Mike Gatting, but my favourite is Warne’s delivery to Andrew Strauss in 2005 Ashes. He almost single-handedly fought for Australia in that series. He was a maestro. He was an extra-ordinary human being and he lived his life to the fullest,” he added.

India’s squad for the second Test: Rohit Sharma (Captain), Priyank Panchal, Mayank Agarwal, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Hanuma Vihari, Shubhman Gill, Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper), KS Bharat, Ravindra Jadeja, Jayant Yadav, R. Ashwin, Saurabh Kumar, Mohd. Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Mohd. Shami, Jasprit Bumrah (vice-captain), Axar Patel.