Kuldeep Yadav released from India’s T20I squad — BCCI explains why | Cricket News
India’s left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav has been released from the T20I squad currently touring Australia, the BCCI confirmed on Sunday. The move comes with two matches still left in the five-match series, which is currently level at 1-1.
In a statement, the board said, “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.”India A pulled off a stunning victory over South Africa A in the first red-ball match, thanks to a stellar 90 from skipper Rishabh Pant in only his second innings back from a three-month injury layoff.The BCCI clarified that the decision was made to help the spinner get valuable red-ball match practice ahead of the upcoming match against South Africa A. “The decision has been taken to provide Kuldeep with red-ball game time in preparation for the upcoming Test series against South Africa,” the board added.Kuldeep featured in India’s second T20I defeat in Brisbane, where he took two wickets for 45 runs in 3.2 overs. He was in the XI, but did not feature in the rain-affected opening match which was called off and was benched for the third T20I in Hobart, where India levelled the series thanks to an all-round performance led by Washington Sundar and Arshdeep Singh.With Kuldeep’s release, India’s updated squad for the final two T20Is is as follows: Suryakumar Yadav (C), Shubman Gill (VC) , Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Jitesh Sharma, Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, Sanju Samson, Rinku Singh, and Washington Sundar.Meanwhile, Kuldeep will join the India A squad under Rishabh Pant for the second four-day match against South Africa A, beginning November 6. The red-ball side features senior names like KL Rahul, Mohammed Siraj, and Prasidh Krishna, alongside domestic regulars such as Sai Sudharsan, Devdutt Padikkal, and Ruturaj Gaikwad.
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India’s series against Australia now heads into the final two matches with the score tied, while Kuldeep’s focus shifts to building momentum ahead of the home Test series starting on November 14.
