No more Kuldeep Yadav in IND vs AUS T20Is, BCCI reveals reason

Kuldeep Yadav will no longer be a part of the Indian squad for the T20I series in Australia and will instead be a part of the India A team

India cricket team spinner Kuldeep Yadav has been released from the squad amid the ongoing IND vs AUS T20I series. The five-match series is currently poised 1-1, with Australia winning the 2nd T20I in Melbourne while the visitors clinched a 5-wicket win in Hobart on Sunday. Kuldeep, who featured in two out of the three T20Is, has now been released from the squad to gear up for the upcoming Test series against South Africa at home.

Kuldeep Yadav released amid IND vs AUS T20Is

As per a statement issued by BCCI, Kuldeep has been released from the T20I squad in order to allow him to participate in the 2nd unofficial Test between India A and South Africa A. The second Test will be held between November 6-9 at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru, serving as the final stage of preparation before the Test series against South Africa which begins on November 14. With Kuldeep joining the India A side, it is all but confirmed that he will be a part of the Indian side for the two-match IND vs SA Test series.

“The Indian team management has requested to release Kuldeep Yadav from the ongoing T20I series in Australia to allow him to participate in the India A series against South Africa A at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. The second four-day match starts on 6th November,” the BCCI said in a statement on Sunday.

In the longest format of the game, Kuldeep was last seen in action during the IND vs WI Test series at home earlier in October. He took 12 wickets in that series, finishing as India’s leading wicket-getter among spinners.

India squad for 4th and 5th T20I vs AUS

Suryakumar Yadav (C), Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill (VC), Tilak Varma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Jitesh Sharma (WK), Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, Sanju Samson (WK), Rinku Singh, Washington Sundar

India A squad for 2nd Test vs South Africa A

Rishabh Pant (C) (WK), KL Rahul, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Sai Sudharsan (VC), Devdutt Padikkal, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Harsh Dubey, Tanush Kotian, Manav Suthar, Khaleel Ahmed, Gurnoor Brar, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Prasidh Krishna, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep, Kuldeep Yadav