Left-arm spinner Axar Patel will replace an injured Ravindra Jadeja, who was on Monday ruled out due to a shoulder injury from India’s remaining two cricket Tests against Australia.
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According to a media release issued by the BCCI, “Axar Patel will join the Indian team in Australia for the remainder of the Test Series as a replacement for Ravindra Jadeja, who has a shoulder injury and will be returning to India to undergo a rehabilitation program.”
The injury will also raise question marks over whether Jadeja will recover in time for the ODI tri-series in January. The opportunity couldn’t have come at a better time for the 20-year-old Axar, who has already played 9 ODIs for India taking 14 wickets with best figures of 3/40 against Sri Lanka.
Axar is currently playing for Gujarat against Saurashtra at Rajkot in an ongoing Ranji Trophy match where he emerged as the most successful bowler for his team in the first innings grabbing 4/72.
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He is expected to reach Melbourne in time before the Boxing Day Test match starting Friday.