India included Axar Patel in the squad for the second Test against Sri Lanka. The day-night match is scheduled to begin on 12 March in Bengaluru. Axar has replaced Kuldeep Yadav, who has already been released from the squad.
Even though India played three spinners in the first Test match, in Mohali, Kuldeep was unable to break into the playing XI. The team decided to give an opportunity to Jayant Yadav, alongside Ravindra Jadeja and R. Ashwin. Kuldeep played his last Test match in 2019, against Australia.
'Axar was the first choice but had to undergo recovery and hence Kuldeep was a backup,' a BCCI source told PTI. 'Now Axar is fit and back so Kuldeep has been released'.
Axar missed the first Test match due to a shin injury. So far, he has claimed 36 wickets in 5 Tests at an average of 11.86. If India continue to play three spinners, Axar is likely to replace Jayant in the playing XI.